Curare Poisoning: Symptoms, Treatment & Emergency Care

Curare refers to the common name for the various poisons used in the arrows of indigenous South American tribes. Death can occur as a result of curare poisoning through asphyxiation of the respiratory muscles.

Method of Contact

• Curare is only poisonous if mixed with the blood. Ingesting or inhaling curare will not produce poisonous effects.

Artificial Respiration

• If a person is set up on an artificial respirator throughout the period in which the curare poison is present within the body, the poisoned person will suffer no ill effects.

Physostigmine

• Physostigmine is a drug that must be injected into a person intravenously and can temporarily reverse the effects of curare poisoning.

Aminopryridine

• Derivatives of aminopyridine have been patented as a chemical agent capable of reversing the effects of curare poisoning.

Indigenous Tribes

• The indigenous tribes of South America claim to have an antidote for curare poisoning that is effective if applied immediately after exposure. They have refused to release its name.