T65: Toxic effect of other and unspecified substances

T65.1: Toxic effect: Strychnine and its salts

Strychnine is a toxic substance that occurs in certain plant seeds or plant parts. Strychnine can also be added to drugs such as cocaine or heroin. Strychnine acts on the spinal cord. The spinal cord is located in the spinal column. The spinal cord is made up of nerve fibers. The brain uses the nerve fibers to exchange information with the organs, skin and muscles. Strychnine makes the muscles tense up.

With strychnine poisoning, the muscles in the body seize up. This also affects the muscles used for breathing. So you can be short of breath, or even stop breathing.