Methyl Salicylate potentially fatal to athletes...

[stang4life]

Has anyone seen any articles or news stories on the young track star from up North somewhere who died from an apparent overdose of Methyl Salicylate, otherwise known as Bengay or other analgesic sports creams?  Might be something to take a look at.

Toxic dose of BenGay killed track star

Active ingredient accumulated in teen's blood stream

NEWHOUSE

Published on: 06/08/07

New York — A 17-year-old track star died in April from a rare toxic dose of sports cream, New York's medical examiner said Friday.

Toxicology tests revealed Arielle Newman's blood contained lethal amounts of methyl salicylate, the active ingredient in common muscle rubs like BenGay and Icy Hot, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office. The teen accidentally used "topical medication to an excess," causing poisons to accumulate in her body over an undetermined amount of time, Borakove said.

The overdose likely led to a seizure.

Arielle, a senior at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island who garnered numerous awards in her brief athletic career, was found dead at home April 3. An autopsy was inconclusive, and led to speculation that her sudden death might have been connected to a party she attended the night before.

Her family had been waiting more than two months for the medical examiner's office to reach a final conclusion.

"I am glad this shows (Arielle) didn't die of her own doing. But this is a tragedy that could have been avoided," said her mother, Alice Newman.

Deaths from the topical salicylate poisoning appear to be extremely rare. Borakove said this was the first case she has ever encountered in 20 years with the medical examiner's office. None of the doctors contacted by reporters for this article could recall any others. Research into medical journals revealed a few reports of salicylate toxicity when absorbed through the skin, but no deaths.

The package labels on some of the over-the-counter topical analgesic creams have warnings against ingesting the medication, using it on open cuts or wounds, in combination with heating pads or on children. Some specifically state there are no known overdoses when the products are used externally.

Dom Tringali, Arielle Newman's track coach, said sports balms can be found in just about every locker room and every track meet.

Alice Newman said her daughter had been using a teammate's Ultra Strength BenGay and possibly other topical analgesics on her legs this year to help her recover between track meets.

"She told me her legs felt like cement," her mother said. "She was working so hard to turn her season around."

Even with repeated use, however, it is unclear how the extremely high levels of the substance remained in her body.

Dr. Kristen Roman of the medical examiner's office told Alice Newman the toxicology report revealed more than six times the safe amount of methyl salicylate in Arielle's blood.

Mrs. Newman said she took Arielle to several doctors after she complained of fatigue and shortness of breath in February and March. An asthma specialist prescribed an inhaler, and a dermatologist prescribed some cream for a skin condition.

Neither doctor could pinpoint any other medical problems, she said. None of the other medications Arielle was taking contributed to her death, according to the medical examiner.

The night before her death, Arielle returned from a party and spoke with her mother for hours before going to bed. After they found Arielle dead the next morning, her parents discovered vomit on two pairs of pants she apparently had worn the night before. According to medical journals, nausea and vomiting are some of the symptoms of salicylate poisoning. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, convulsions and agitation.

Dr. Roman and several of the detectives who first investigated Arielle's death noticed a faint minty smell when they examined the body, Mrs. Newman said. The smell could have been attributed to methyl salicylate, also known as "oil of wintergreen."

Although initial autopsy results pointed to the popular liniment as a possibly cause of death, it still appeared implausible.

"She said she was really perplexed by it," Mrs. Newman said of conversations she had with Roman.

"I still can't believe it," she said. "I am scrupulous about my children's health. I did not think an over-the-counter product could be unsafe."

[DP#1FAN]

I had 3 tubes of BenGay on after a Hebert game. Who would of ever guessed it could be fatal?

[stang4life]

Obviously, the unlucky souls who have not been as luck as you.  I'm sure that it is like anything else...each person reacts differently to different substances, etc.