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Mad Honey Mimicking Acute Coronary Syndrome

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A 56-year-old Nepalese man presented to the hospital with syncope, bradycardia, and hypotension. Throughout his admission, he was hemodynamically unstable, with associated electrocardiographic changes and fluctuations in consciousness. This followed the unintentional overdose of the traditional medicine “mad honey” containing grayanotoxins with hallucinogenic properties. Following treatment with an anticholinergic infusion, he made a full recovery within 48 hours. This case underlines the importance of considering atypical causes for presentations such as bradycardia and hypotension, especially in patients from cultures where mad honey usage is common, and highlights the potential adverse events of this traditional medicine to be life-threatening.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases

DOI: 10.7326/aimcc.2025.0650

Authors: Samantha Buelu, Collins Adeleye, David Warriner

Institutions: Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Sheffield

Language: English

Topic: Plant-based Medicinal Research

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7129463860

FWCI:

Cites: 11

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