Today I am joined by toxicology master, Leon Gussow to discuss a new quasi-legal class of drugs: Bath Salts. I saw my first OD of this a month ago; despite the drug's name, this patient was neither clean nor pleasantly refreshed. He was violent, agitated, and overheated.

This class of drugs are chemically altered hallucinogenic stimulants. Depending on which chemical is used in the salts, the patient can look like they took meth or ecstasy. They will present with a sympathomimetic toxidrome including hyperadrenergic vitals and profound hyperthermia.

How many folks out there have ever used the Bellevue-style metal tub to immerse these patients in ice baths? Let me know in the comments.

Here is a link to Leon's bath salt article in EM News.