Eye Drops: Wedding Crashers' Secret Weapon?

In the 2005 comedy film *Wedding Crashers*, Owen Wilson's character, John, spikes Sack Lodge's (Bradley Cooper) drink with eye drops. In the film, this prank causes Sack to become violently ill. However, in real life, consuming eye drops can have severe and potentially deadly consequences.

Tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in eye drops, constricts blood vessels and can cause difficulty breathing, slowed heartbeat, and even coma if consumed in large quantities. In fact, several people have been charged and convicted of using eye drops to poison others, with tragic results.

Despite the comedic portrayal in *Wedding Crashers*, it is important to understand that consuming eye drops is dangerous and can lead to serious health issues or even death.

The chemical tetrahydrozoline in eye drops can cause abnormal drowsiness, sedation, low or high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, decreased heart rate, and even a coma

The chemical tetrahydrozoline is a decongestant that is commonly found in eye drops. It is intended to reduce redness in the eyes caused by minor irritants, such as dust, smoke, or pollen. However, when consumed orally in large quantities, tetrahydrozoline can have severe adverse effects on the body.

Tetrahydrozoline causes the constriction of blood vessels, which can lead to abnormal drowsiness and sedation. This effect is dangerous as it can cause a person to become unconscious and slip into a coma. Additionally, the constriction of blood vessels can result in abnormal blood pressure, either too high or too low. This can lead to further complications, such as difficulty breathing and a decreased heart rate.

The impact of tetrahydrozoline on the cardiovascular system is extremely hazardous and can be life-threatening. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect that someone has ingested eye drops containing this chemical.

In the 2005 film Wedding Crashers, Owen Wilson's character spikes Bradley Cooper's drink with eye drops

In the 2005 film *Wedding Crashers*, Owen Wilson's character, John, spikes Bradley Cooper's character, Sack Lodge's, drink with eye drops. The scene has had some real-life imitations with dangerous consequences.

In the film, John spikes Sack's drink with Visine eye drops. This is a prank, and Sack becomes violently ill. However, in real life, eye drops contain a dangerous chemical called tetrahydrozoline, which can be deadly if consumed. Tetrahydrozoline is a member of the imidazole family and acts as a decongestant and vasoconstrictor. When applied directly to the eye, it reduces redness by narrowing the blood vessels so that less blood can flow through them. However, when ingested, tetrahydrozoline is absorbed into the main bloodstream and can cause slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and even death.

In one case, a woman tried to poison her fiancé by putting eye drops in his drink after being inspired by the scene in *Wedding Crashers*. Jaymee Lynn Cruz told police she wanted to make her fiancé ill so she could take their daughter and move out. Fortunately, her plan was foiled when her fiancé noticed her putting the eye drops in his drink and called the police. Cruz was arrested and charged with distributing noxious or deleterious food, a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 25 months in prison.

This is not an isolated incident. There have been several other cases where people have attempted to harm or kill someone by putting eye drops in their drinks. In another case, a woman was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison after she admitted to putting eye drops in her husband's drink, which led to his death.

While the scene in *Wedding Crashers* is meant to be a funny and memorable moment, it is important to remember that eye drops are not a prank and can have serious, and even deadly, consequences if ingested.

A woman in North Carolina was arrested for trying to poison her fiancé with eye drops, inspired by Wedding Crashers

A North Carolina woman, Jaymee Lynn Cruz, was arrested for trying to poison her fiancé with eye drops. The incident took place on June 15, 2019, at their home in Salisbury, North Carolina. Cruz's fiancé noticed her putting eye drops in his soda and called the authorities. The couple had been arguing over the custody of their 6-month-old daughter, and Cruz wanted to move out with her child.

Cruz initially denied the accusation but later admitted to doing it, saying she was inspired by a scene in the 2005 comedy film "Wedding Crashers." In the scene, Owen Wilson's character, John, spikes the drink of Sack Lodge, played by Bradley Cooper, making him violently ill. Cruz told deputies she only planned to make her fiancé sick as well.

The chemical found in eye drops, tetrahydrozoline, can be dangerous if consumed in large quantities. It can constrict blood vessels and cause difficulty breathing, a slowed heartbeat, and even a coma. Cruz was charged with distributing noxious or deleterious food, a felony punishable by up to 25 months in prison.

This is not the first time someone has tried to poison someone with eye drops. In 2018, a South Carolina woman, Lana Clayton, was charged with killing her husband by putting eye drops in his drinks over several days. Clayton was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

A South Carolina woman admitted to killing her husband by putting eye drops in his drinks over several days

A South Carolina woman, Lana Sue Clayton, admitted to killing her husband, Stephen Clayton, by putting eye drops in his drinks over several days. In 2020, Clayton was sentenced to 25 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and tampering with a food or drug product. She pled guilty to the charges after admitting to giving her husband drinks laced with Visine eye drops.

The chemical found in eye drops, tetrahydrozoline, can be extremely dangerous if consumed. It can constrict blood vessels, cause difficulty breathing, slow the heartbeat, and even lead to a coma or death. Even small amounts can be toxic, especially for those with a smaller body size. In the case of Stephen Clayton, the toxic levels of tetrahydrozoline in his system caused his death.

Lana Clayton's actions were inspired by a scene in the 2005 film "Wedding Crashers", where Owen Wilson's character puts eye drops in the drink of his rival, played by Bradley Cooper. The prank makes Cooper's character violently ill, and this has inspired multiple real-life cases of eye drop poisoning. In 2019, a North Carolina woman, Jaymee Lynn Cruz, attempted to poison her fiancé by putting eye drops in his soda. She claimed that she only intended to make him sick and was charged with distributing noxious or deleterious food, a felony punishable by up to 25 months in prison.

The eye drop method of poisoning has been used in several other cases as well. In 2019, Joshua Lee Hunsucker, a former paramedic in North Carolina, was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly using eye drops to poison and kill his wife, Stacy Robinson Hunsucker. In 2013, California mechanic Shane Carpenter was charged with poisoning and domestic violence after his wife accused him of spiking her drink with eye drops. And in 2012, Byron Shull of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to five years in prison for nearly killing his 84-year-old father with eye drops.

While eye drops can be helpful for relieving eye redness and irritation, they should only be used as directed and never ingested. When used incorrectly, they can have severe and potentially deadly consequences.

Eye drops are dangerous for young children, and can cause sleepiness and difficulty breathing

In the movie *Wedding Crashers*, Owen Wilson's character, John, spikes Sack Lodge's (Bradley Cooper) drink with eye drops, causing him to become violently ill. This scene has inspired real-life copycat crimes, with people attempting to poison their partners and spouses by adding eye drops to their drinks.

Eye drops contain a chemical called tetrahydrozoline, which is used to reduce eye redness by constricting blood vessels when applied directly to the eyes. However, when ingested, tetrahydrozoline is dangerous and can be toxic. Even small amounts can cause serious health issues, especially in young children.

Eye drops are not meant to be consumed orally and can cause serious illness or even death, especially in young children. When ingested, tetrahydrozoline can cause sleepiness, difficulty breathing, and a slowed heartbeat. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of tetrahydrozoline, and even small amounts can lead to respiratory distress and sleepiness.

Tetrahydrozoline is similar to clonidine, a blood pressure-lowering medication. When consumed in high amounts, it can lead to dangerous side effects such as low blood pressure, a slowed heart rate, and sleepiness. In larger doses, tetrahydrozoline can cause serious respiratory problems and even put someone in a coma.

The effects of ingesting eye drops can be life-threatening, and it is important to keep them out of the reach of children. If eye drops are ingested, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Do not induce vomiting, as this may increase the absorption of the chemical. Instead, loosen any tight clothing and, if needed, administer CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

While eye drops are generally safe when used as directed, it is important to be cautious and only use them when necessary. All medications can have side effects, and it is important to be aware of potential risks. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop using the eye drops and consult your doctor.

To prevent accidental ingestion, especially by children, it is essential to keep eye drops secure and out of reach. Always follow the instructions for use and never exceed the recommended dosage.

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