Lethal T-61 Poisoning: Clinical Perspective and Therapeutic Recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62457/5xakpm37Keywords:
T61 Poisining, Embutramide, Animal Euthanasia, Cardiaca Arrest, Suicide AttemptAbstract
The case involves a 36-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency department unconscious, with respiratory distress and cardiac arrest. He was found at home with two syringes containing T-61, a compound used for animal euthanasia, consisting of Embutramide, Mebezonium iodide, and Tetracaine Hydrochloride. Despite extensive medical efforts, including advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and sedation, the outcome was fatal. Laboratory studies showed significant alterations in liver function and blood counts. Early identification of the toxic agent and rapid intervention were critical, yet insufficient due to the severity of the intoxication and the patient's poor prognosis. This case underscores the need to control access to veterinary substances and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in severe intoxication cases.
Downloads
References
Giorgi M, Bertini S. TANAX(T-61): an overview. Pharmacological Research. 2000 Apr;41(4):379-383. DOI: 10.1006/phrs.1999.0633. PMID: 10704259.
MSD Salud Animal. (s.f.). Ficha técnica de T-61. Recuperado de https://www.msd-salud-animal.mx/offload-downloads/t61-ficha-tecnica/?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Valdez-Santiago, R., Villalobos-Hernández, A., Arenas-Monreal, L., Benjet, C., & Vázquez-García, A. (2023). Conducta suicida en México: análisis comparativo entre población adolescente y adulta. Salud Pública de México. https://doi.org/10.21149/14815
Lazcano Ponce, E. C., & Shamah Levy, T. (2024). La salud de los mexicanos en cifras: resultados de la Ensanut 2022. Recuperado de insp.mx.
Observatorio Mexicano de Salud Mental y Consumo de Drogas. (2023). Hoja de datos consumo de sustancias 2022. Recuperado de gob.mx.
Magis Rodríguez, C. L., Villafuerte García, A., Angulo Corral, M. L., Pacheco Bufanda, L. I., Salazar-Arriola, S. A., Ramos Rodríguez, M. E., Villanueva Lechuga, D., Meza Hernández, J. A., Cruz Rico, C. L., & Rico Cervantes, B. R. (2022). Sobredosis fatales y no fatales por consumo de opioides en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en el norte de México. Boletín COVID-19 Salud Pública, 28, 1-12. Recuperado de UNAM.
Smith RA, Lewis D. Suicide by ingestion of T-61. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1989 Aug;31(4):319-20. PMID: 2815545.
Trevisani F, Tamé MR, Bernardi M, Tovoli C, Gasbarrini A, Panarelli M, Gasbarrini G. Severe hepatic failure occurring with T61 ingestion in an attempted suicide. Early recovery with the use of intravenous infusion of reduced glutathione. Dig Dis Sci. 1993 Apr; 38(4):752-6. doi: 10.1007/BF01316810. PMID: 8462375.
Hantson P, Semaan C, Jouret JC, Rahier J, Lauwerys R, Brunain JP, Mahieu P. Intracardiac injection of T-61, a veterinary euthanasia drug. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1996;34(2):235-9. doi: 10.3109/15563659609013777. PMID: 8618261.
Kintz P, Cirimele V, Ludes B. Blood investigation in a fatality involving the veterinary drug T-61. J Anal Toxicol. 2002 Oct; 26(7):529-31. doi: 10.1093/jat/26.7.529. PMID: 12423012.
Hantson P, Villa A, Galloy AC, Negri S, Esabon G, Lambiotte F, Haufroid V, Garnier R. Dimethylformamide metabolism following self-harm using a veterinary euthanasia product. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2010 Aug; 48(7):725-9. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2010.498790. PMID: 20849330.
Morini L, Pozzi F, Risso E, Vignali C, Groppi A. Distribution of embutramide and mebezonium iodide in a suicide after tanax injection. J Anal Toxicol. 2012 Jun; 36(5):349-52. doi: 10.1093/jat/bks030. PMID: 22582271.
Musshoff F, Kirschbaum KM, Madea B. Another suicide using the veterinary drug T61 and distribution of drugs in the body. J Anal Toxicol. 2013 Apr; 37(3):186. doi: 10.1093/jat/bks140. Epub 2013 Jan 27. PMID: 23358154.
Haerden, Y., Bodson, L., & Mostin, M. (2014). A case of intentional oral intake of T61. Antigifcentrum.be. Retrieved from https://www.antigifcentrum.be/sites/default/files/imce/Poster_T61_vs01a_2014.pdf
Lajtai A, Mayer M, Lakatos Á, Porpáczy Z, Miseta A. Embutramide, a Component of Tanax(®) (T-61) as a New Drug of Abuse? J Forensic Sci. 2016 Mar; 61(2):573-575. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13010. Epub 2016 Feb 1. PMID: 27404634.
MSD Salud Animal México. (n.d.). Eutanasia (T-61). MSD Salud Animal. https://www.msd-salud-animal.mx/productos/t61-eutanasia/
Giorgi, M., Bertini, S., Soldani, G., & Giusiani, M. (2001). Comparison of HPLC and GC-MS Methods for Determination of Embutramide (A Component of Tanax® or T-61® in Biological Specimens). Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 25(5), 323-327. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/25.5.323
Valdivia-Infantas, M. (2020). Guía de manejo general del paciente intoxicado agudo. Revista de Salud Pública y Medicina Interna, 20(1), 45-52. http://www.scielo.org.pe/pdf/rspmi/v20n1/a07v20n1.pdf
Peña, L. M., Parra, S., & Rodríguez, C. A. (Eds.). (2009). Guía para el manejo del paciente intoxicado (4ª ed.). Universidad de Antioquia.
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
Not Applicable
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 BUIYYA TIERRA

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.