Mr. A, a 22-year-old Hispanic male with past psychiatric history of methamphetamine dependence and bipolar disorder type 1, came to the emergency department because of suicidal ideation with a plan to slash his throat with a machete. The patient was very agitated in triage and during initial assessment. In the emergency room (ER), the patient reported that he had been using methamphetamine for the last two years. His last use was a few hours before coming to the ER and that was his only use during the past six to eight weeks.\nOn physical examination, temperature was found to be 96.5 degree Fahrenheit, pulse 105/minute, blood pressure 124/78 mm Hg, weight 68.0 kg, and height 173 cm. His pupils were 5 mm in diameter and reactive. In the review of systems, the patient denied any pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and abdominal complaints. There was no increased lacrimation. Lungs were clear and the heart rate was regular without murmurs. Bowel sounds were normoactive. The patient was not oriented to time. His affect was flat and irritable. He was evasive and tangential while answering questions. A chest radiograph and electrocardiogram were normal. His urinary drug screen was positive for amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cannabinoids. Blood chemistry concentrations/counts/percent of the following analyses were mainly within reference limits: alcohol <5 mg/dL, salicylate <4 mg/dL, sodium 141 mmol/L, potassium 3.8 mmol/L, chloride 107 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen 10 mg/dL, creatinine 0.9 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase 23 U/L, alanine transaminase 18 U/L, alkaline phosphatase 69 U/L, thyroid stimulating hormone 0.57 μIU/mL, white blood cells 10.7 K/uL, red blood cells 4.49 Mu/L, haemoglobin 13.9 g/dL, hematocrit 42.2%, and platelets 239 K/uL. Urinalysis revealed nothing abnormal.\nThe patient was transferred to the inpatient psychiatry unit. The next day, the patient was disoriented, refused to talk to the treatment team, and slept most of the day. On his third hospital day, the patient was much more oriented and reported that he was unable to get methamphetamine for the past six to eight weeks because he could not afford it. He claimed to use an insecticide, mostly cockroach killer, to “get high.” He would either “electrocute” the bottle or spray it on a heated metal sheet, and when the contents of the bottle turned into crystal, he would either inhale it or smoke it. The patient would use the crystals formed from one bottle for four to seven days. He claimed that his friends used those crystals intravenously after diluting them. The patient reported that it would give him the same high as methamphetamine and he would occasionally have feelings of deja vu. The patient also reported having olfactory hallucinations when he was on “crystal roach killer” but could not elaborate on that. He said that he liked the increase in heart rate and the “rush” he used to get after every use.\nThe patient's last use of the “crystal roach killer” was three days before coming to the ER. The patient reported that he would sleep most of the day when he was using it. He denied unwanted adverse effects during his use except for frequent headaches upon waking up which were relieved by over-the-counter analgesics. The patient had been using the insecticide for six to eight weeks and only used methamphetamine one (1) day before coming to the ER. The patient claimed that he had been compliant with his medications for bipolar disorder until he started using “crystal roach killer.” The patient was taking divalproex sodium 500 mg twice daily and quetiapine extended-release 300 mg at bedtime. He voiced that he, since a few weeks before coming to the ER, got scared that he might get cancer because of the frequent use of the insecticide, which led him to have suicidal ideation.
A 48-year-old male, pharmacist by occupation was found lying unconscious on the floor of his chemist shop with a 50 cc syringe partially filled with carbolic acid (household phenol) by his side. He was immediately rushed to the emergency department of our hospital. On inquiry, his wife said that he was staying aloof for past 1 week. He was otherwise healthy and was not on any regular medication. There was no history of smoking or alcohol intake.\nOn examination, he was irritable, but still following simple command like showing tongue when asked for. His extremities were cold. He was pale but not icteric. He had tachycardia (heart rate 116/min, regular) with blood pressure of 86/56 mmHg. He was tachypnic with a respiratory rate of 40/min. No abnormality was detected in respiratory system and abdominal examination. He was moving all four limbs spontaneously and there was no apparent cranial nerve deficit. His left forearm was swollen with evidence of thrombophlebitis extending up to the arm []. Random Blood Glucose was 95 mg/dl. Initial blood gas revealed hypoxia, lactic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis with a compensated pH (pH 7.35, PO2 75.9 mmHg, on 12 L O2 by mask, PCO2 33.1 mmHg, HCO3 17.8 mmol/L, lactate 5.2 mmol/L). Electrocardiogram was unremarkable except sinus tachycardia. Echocardiogram showed prominent Right Atrium with mild Tricuspid Regurgitation (estimated Pulminary Artery Systolic Pressure 37 mmHg); Inferior Vena Caval diameter of 12 mm with large respiratory variation; no wall motion abnormality and global ejection fraction EF 55%.\nAfter an initial fluid bolus of 1000 ml Normal Saline (NS) over half an hour and 500 ml × 2 of NS over next one and a half hour, he was continued on NS 100 ml/h with intermittent boluses of Furosemide. Oxygen supplementation with 40% Venturi Mask was started to maintain Oxygen saturation SpO2 above 92%. He was also given other supportive therapy in the form of intravenous Pantoprazole as stress ulcer prophylaxis and Ondansetron. After 2 h in the ICU, he had improvement in blood pressure, normalization of serum lactate level (2.3 mmol/L) and sensorium. He confessed to the self-injection of intravenous phenol. He also revealed that he tried to consume “All Out” liquid (Mosquito repellent containing 1.6% Pyrethrin) but immediately vomited out. At this time, he was oliguric and progressively more tachypneic with worsening oxygenation status. Chest X-ray showed bilateral patchy infiltrate []. Initial laboratory investigations revealed normal complete blood count; high blood urea nitrogen (21.1 mg/dl) and S Creatinine 2 mg/dl with normal electrolytes; deranged liver function test (S Bilirubin 3.02 mg/dl, direct Bilirubin 0.14 mg/dl, aspartate aminotransferase AST 211 U/L. alanine aminotransferase ALT 95 U/L, alkaline phosphate ALP 95 U/L. lactate dehydrogenase LDH 2574 U/L); normal serum Amylase; deranged coagulation parameters partial thromboplastin time 63.7 min, control 26 min and prothrombin time 27.8 min, control 12.4 min); high creatine phosphokinase (447 U/L). Urine analysis showed hemoglobinuria and proteinuria 3+. After an initial trial of noninvasive ventilation for half an hour, he was intubated and started on mechanical ventilation support with low tidal volume strategy.\nAfter 6 h, he was still oliguric with 45 ml of dark urine [] (Total intake 3500 ml). There was evidence of intravascular hemolysis with low serum Haptoglobin. His G-6PD level was normal. Abdominal ultrasonography examination was unremarkable. Hemodialysis was initiated in view of oliguria persistent metabolic acidosis and probable fluid overload. On day 2 he developed thrombocytopenia (platelet count 100,000/dl). In the subsequent days in the ICU his hypoxia improved but he continued to remain anuric. He was successfully weaned off the ventilator on day 4. On day 5 he was shifted to the ward on oxygen supplementation with 4 L O2 by nasal prong (maintaining SpO2 of 95%), still anuric on daily hemodialysis. On day 14, he was discharged from the hospital with normalization of all parameters except kidney function. He was advised 3 times a week maintenance hemodialysis, at discharge. His kidney function tests normalized over the subsequent 8 weeks of follow-up.