It's toxicity comes from inhibition of oxidising enzymes, which happily is reversible.
The classical features of cyanide poisoning are:
- brick red skin
- smell of bitter almonds
Acute signs of cyanide poisoning include:
- hypotension
- hypoxia
- headache
- confusion
Chronic signs of cyanide poisoning include:
- ataxia
- peripheral neuropathy
- dermatitis
Treatment is with 100% oxygen and IV dicolbalt edetate
Onwards for a very brief final battle of the day: phentolamine
