Amitraz, an insecticide and veterinary medicine, has been available in many countries since 1974 but reports of poisoning with it have only become prominent in the last 7 years. The vast majority of cases have occurred in Turkey and have involved children. The data available, both human and animal, do not allow clear separation of the features of toxicity of amitraz from those of the hydrocarbon solvents in which it is commonly dissolved. Amitraz stimulates alpha 2-adrenoceptors resulting in impairment of consciousness, respiratory depression, convulsions, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia and hypoglycaemia. Even the most severely poisoned patients recover with nothing more than intensive care; only one possible death has been documented. Animal studies indicate that the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists, yohimbine and atipamezole, can reverse amitraz-induced toxicity but they have not been assessed in poisoned humans.
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