The plants azaleae (Ericaceae Family) has graya-notox in I (Andromedotoxin), II , III. These potent hypotensive agents are found in their leaves, flowers, and honey.
We had experiences of 40 cases of azalea wine intoxication, who had been admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of Han Gang Sung Sim Hospital from May, 1974 to September, 1976.
They ingested 113 ml of azalea wine on an average and over a half of the cases were suffered from the toxic symptoms within an hour after the drinking. The main symptoms were nausea & vomiting, dizziness, syncope or near syncope, breathlessness, and defecation sense in the order of the frequency. Physical signs were bradycardia (average 47/min), hypotention (average 82/48mmHg), hypothermia (average 35°7’6 orally), and drowsy mental state. There were no abnormal laboratory findings except sinus bradycardia in EKG. A single intravenous injection of atropine (0. 5mg) was the most effective regimen for the toxic state.
A suspicion on the azalea wine intoxication should always be paid when there is bradycardia, hypotension, nausea, vomiting and syncope in a patient without identifiable cause.
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