In a recent article, I mentioned an old prank used by bartenders to get revenge on obnoxious guests. A few drops of Visine added to a drink, it’s rumored, will induce a sudden case of diarrhea. The responses to that article were overwhelming. Some found it amusing, reminding them of a scene in the film “The Wedding Crashers.” Others were shocked and outraged. But no one seemed to know anyone brave enough—or stupid enough—to try this out in real life. Which begs the question, is there any truth to this legend? Does swallowing Visine really cause diarrhea?
The diarrhea part is just a myth says Snopes, a web-site dedicated to debunking urban legends. Unfortunately, its researchers say, the real side effects of ingesting it are far, far more dangerous.
The active ingredient in Visine is tetrahydrozolone hydrochloride, a drug that causes shrinking of the blood vessels. Like the ad for Visine says, “it gets the red out.” The side effects of ingesting this drug include difficulty in breathing, nausea and vomiting, seizures, a drop in blood pressure, even coma. Pretty serious consequences for a prank.
Yet the notion persists that putting Visine in a drink causes diarrhea. A Google search produces dozens of stories about people spiking drinks with Visine to get revenge. Last October, ABC news reported about a 23-year old female worker who faces felony charges for poisoning her boss with Visine. Prior to that, a man playing a prank on an ex-girlfriend was charged with contaminating a substance for human consumption, a first-degree felony. He was also charged with domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. There are many other similar stories.
With all this press, surely the makers of Visine would know about the practice of putting eye drops in a drink, right? Well, I asked them. Here’s the reply I got from Johnson & Johnson, the company that produces the product:
We are not aware of this practice, but would discourage it as it’s not the intended use of VISINE® eye drops. We market and promote VISINE® eye drops within indicated usage directions and it is not intended for ingestion.
Hmpf.
The warning label on Visine clearly states that one should seek medical help or call Poison Control if the product is swallowed. So, the next time you think about slipping someone a Visine “Mickey,” think again. Putting eye drops in someone’s drink is not just a harmless prank. Visine can be poisonous if swallowed and could lead to serious injury, possibly even death.
Being a good bartender is cool. Life behind bars isn’t.
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