This list covers 14 poisons, ranging alphabetically from “Ketamine” to “Komodo Dragon Bite.” These substances come from wildly different sources, including synthetic drugs, industrial chemicals, household fuels, plants, and venomous animals. Some show up in medicine, manufacturing, or recreational use, while others occur naturally in the wild, and all of them can cause serious harm to the human body.
Poisons are substances that disrupt the normal functioning of the body once they enter it, whether through swallowing, inhaling, or contact with skin. They range from everyday household products to rare animal venoms, and their effects can appear within minutes or build up slowly over time. One striking example is krokodil, a homemade opioid that became infamous for causing the skin around injection sites to rot away.
Below you’ll find the table with the poison, source, effects, antidote, and description for each entry.
Poison: the name of the toxic substance, so you can quickly identify which one you’re reading about.
Source: where the poison comes from, such as a plant, animal, chemical process, or manufactured product.
Effects: the symptoms and health problems the poison causes, helping you understand its severity and how it affects the body.
Antidote: the treatment or intervention used to counteract the poison, or a note if no specific antidote exists.
Description: a short explanation that gives you extra context, background, or a notable fact about the poison.
Poisons
| Poison | Source | Effects | Antidote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine | Synthetic anesthetic drug, also used recreationally | Sedation, hallucinations, respiratory depression and unconsciousness in overdose | No specific antidote; supportive care and airway management |
| Kerosene | Petroleum-based fuel | Vomiting, chemical pneumonia if inhaled into the lungs, drowsiness | No antidote; avoid inducing vomiting, give supportive care |
| Kepone (Chlordecone) | Organochlorine pesticide | Tremors, slurred speech, liver damage, memory loss | Cholestyramine speeds elimination from the body |
| Ketene | Reactive industrial gas used in chemical manufacturing | Severe lung and eye irritation, pulmonary edema | No antidote; remove from exposure and give supportive oxygen therapy |
| King Cobra Venom | Venom of the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) | Neurotoxic paralysis, drooping eyelids, breathing failure | Specific king cobra antivenom |
| Krait Venom | Venom of krait snakes (Bungarus species) | Progressive muscle paralysis, respiratory arrest, little pain at the bite site | Polyvalent antivenom |
| Krokodil (Desomorphine) | Homemade injectable opioid cooked from codeine and toxic solvents | Severe skin and tissue necrosis, gangrene, organ damage | Naloxone reverses opioid effects but not the tissue damage |
| Kalmia (Mountain Laurel) | Grayanotoxins in Kalmia latifolia leaves and nectar | Vomiting, drooling, weakness, irregular heartbeat | Atropine for slow heart rate; supportive care |
| Karaka Nut Toxin | Karakin glycoside in Corynocarpus laevigatus seeds | Convulsions, muscle stiffness, paralysis | No specific antidote; supportive and anticonvulsant care |
| Kentucky Coffee Tree Seeds | Cytisine alkaloid in Gymnocladus dioicus pods | Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures | No specific antidote; supportive care |
| Khat | Cathinone compound in Catha edulis leaves | Stimulant toxicity, high blood pressure, anxiety, psychosis with heavy use | No specific antidote; supportive care for stimulant overdose |
| Kratom | Mitragynine and related alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa leaves | Opioid-like sedation, respiratory depression, liver injury | Naloxone can partially reverse the opioid-like effects |
| Kainic Acid | Neurotoxin from the red alga Digenea simplex | Seizures, overexcitation and damage of brain cells | No antidote; anticonvulsants and supportive care |
| Komodo Dragon Bite | Toxic saliva and venom glands of the Komodo dragon | Severe bleeding, drop in blood pressure, tissue destruction, infection | No specific antidote; antibiotics and wound care |