Tag: Oleander

In 2022, U.S. Poison Control Centers reported 2,007 exposures to plants containing cardiac glycosides [1.7.3]. This guide answers the critical question: What plants cause digoxin toxicity and how can you identify them?

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is one of the most toxic plants in the world, with all parts of the plant containing potent cardiac glycosides. While it is a dangerous poison, the toxins in oleander do not typically show up on standard drug tests, but they can trigger a false positive result on specific therapeutic drug monitoring assays, particularly those for the heart medication digoxin. This distinction is crucial for both clinical and forensic contexts.

Every part of the oleander plant is highly toxic, and ingestion can be fatal, making the question, 'Is oleander psychoactive?' a potentially life-threatening inquiry. The plant's potent cardiac glycosides cause severe poisoning, inducing adverse neurological and cardiac symptoms rather than a sought-after recreational high.