Acute Toxic Effects of the New Psychoactive Substance "Voodoo" among Patients presented to the Poison Control Center of Ain Shams University Hospitals (PCC-ASUH), Egypt, during 2017.
Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy September 20, 2021 Rania Hussien, Maged El-Setouhy, Mohamed El Shinawi et al.
Voodoo, a mixture of psychoactive substances popular among Egyptian youth, caused a range of acute toxic effects in a retrospective study of 71 patients (mean age 25, mostly male) treated at a poison control center in 2017. Neurological symptoms such as agitation, hallucinations, and disturbed consciousness were most common. Respiratory acidosis occurred in 54.9% of cases, along with elevated serum urea, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, and leukocytosis. Sinus tachycardia (31%) and QT prolongation (15.4%) were frequent ECG findings. Over half of patients had also used cannabis or tramadol. Most recovered fully, but two died. Voodoo toxicity presents variably, complicating diagnosis; clinicians should monitor blood gases, electrolytes, and ECG.