Mad Honey Ingestion Leading to Grayanotoxin Poisoning During the Burning Man Music Festival: A Case Series

Cureus. 2024 Jun 20;16(6):e62755. doi: 10.7759/cureus.62755. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Abstract

This is a case series of three patients who presented to the medical facilities at Burning Man, an annual week-long gathering in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, for recreational grayanotoxin ingestion. Grayanotoxin, also known as "mad honey," caused the patients to present with varying degrees of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea based on the quantity ingested. Vital signs showed significant bradycardia and hypotension and were successfully treated with atropine and intravenous fluids. Patients were later discharged after a period of observation and resolution of symptoms.

Keywords: grayanotoxin; prehospital ems; remote wilderness; substance recreational use; toxicology and envenomation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports