Suicide plan by nicotine poisoning: a review of nicotine toxicity

Abstract

Nicotine is a toxic substance which is readily available from a wide variety of sources. Due to the universal availability of nicotine, the primary care physician may encounter accidental or deliberate poisoning in a variety of clinical settings and should be familiar with diagnosis and management of nicotine toxicity. We report a case in which a depressed patient attempted suicide using nicotine extracted from snuff as a lethal drug. Three other cases illustrating the effects and clinical management of nicotine poisoning are also reviewed. The etiology, diagnosis and management of nicotine overdose are discussed.