Swallowing Eye Drops is Dangerous!

The Bottom Line

Over-the-counter eyedrops and decongestant sprays are frequently used to treat upper respiratory congestion and irritated, red eyes. When consumed by mouth, they may result in serious toxicity and even death.

bottle of eye drops next to pair of glasses

Need help? Get Help Onlineor

Call 1-800-222-1222

The Full Story

In a scene from the 2005 movie “Wedding Crashers,” Owen Wilson’s character adds eye drops to another character’s drink with the intent of causing gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. While the end result of this prank created a funny and memorable dinner party scene, the poisonous effects of eye drops are much more serious in real life.

Eyedrops and nasal decongestant sprays often contain ingredients intended to reduce eye redness and nasal stuffiness. These medications are available over-the-counter in pharmacies in the United States and are frequently not packaged in child-resistant containers. More than 100 of these products contain an ingredient, tetrahydrozoline, that is similar to a commonly used blood pressure-lowering medication called clonidine. Examples of brands that may contain tetrahydrozoline or related compounds include Visine®, Clear Eyes®, and Murine®. Tetrahydrozoline causes constriction of blood vessels when it is applied directly on the eye; this reduces eye redness. When used in high amounts or when ingested, tetrahydrozoline can also cause sleepiness, low blood pressure, and a dangerously slow heart rate. Young children who consume small amounts of tetrahydrozoline (as little as one-half of one teaspoon) can develop sleepiness and difficulty breathing. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. Interestingly, despite its reputation as a gastrointestinal irritant, diarrhea is not a common side effect of tetrahydrozoline consumption.

There are approximately 130 cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure reported each year to the online poison control tool webPOISONCONTROL®. Most cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure occur in adults, but more than one-fourth of all exposures occur in toddlers (1-2 years of age). Because tetrahydrozoline ingestion can cause significant toxicity in young children, it is very important for parents and caregivers of young children to be aware of this potentially very dangerous poison.

If you or a loved one drank eyedrops or nasal decongestant sprays by accident or on purpose, do not wait for symptoms to occur. Immediately use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool or call 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free for the public, and available 24 hours a day.

Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD
Medical Toxicology Physician

References

Eddy O, Howell JM. Are one or two dangerous? Clonidine and topical imidazolines exposure in toddlers. J Emerg Med. 2003 Oct;25(3):297-302.

Osterhoudt KC, Henretig FM. Sinoatrial node arrest following tetrahydrozoline ingestion. J Emerg Med. 2004 Oct;27(3):313-4.

Lee BY. How Visine eye drops in the mouth can kill, here are two cases. Forbes. 2020 Jan 18. Accessed June 8, 2021.

Knowles H. Officials said he died in a fall. Then his wife admitted to poisoning his water with eye drops. The Washington Post. 2020 Jan 17. Accessed June 8, 2021.

Swenson K. His wife said he died falling down the stairs. Police say she poisoned him- with eye drops. The Washington Post. 2018 Sep 5. Accessed June 8, 2021.