Tag: Anticholinergic toxicity

Originally isolated from the Calabar bean, physostigmine was first used therapeutically in 1877 to control high ocular pressure in glaucoma patients. However, its modern primary use is in toxicology, where the drug physostigmine is a critical antidote for reversing the severe central and peripheral effects of anticholinergic poisoning.

According to a 2010 review in *American Family Physician*, the incidence of serotonin syndrome is on the rise, underscoring the vital need for clinicians and patients alike to understand what gets mistaken for serotonin syndrome. Recognizing this potentially fatal condition requires careful consideration of a patient's medication history and a keen understanding of its key mimics. (Word count: 48)