Ammonium causticum
Ammonium hydroxide · Mineral
Ammonium Causticum is indicated in acute, severe affections of mucous membranes with marked burning, ulceration, and loss of voice. It acts as a powerful cardiac stimulant and is useful in emergency states such as syncope, thrombosis, haemorrhage, and chloroform narcosis when given by inhalation.
Key symptoms
- Loss of voice (aphonia) with burning rawness in the throat
- Membranous croup with burning in the oesophagus
- Spasm of the glottis with suffocation; patient gasps for breath
- Incessant coughing with accumulation of mucus
- Nasal diphtheria with burning excoriating discharge
- Intense thirst with excessively violent ejection of stomach contents
- Excessive exhaustion and muscular debility
- Scraping and burning in throat and oesophagus; uvula covered with white mucus
Hydrate of Ammonia-Ammonia Water
This is a powerful cardiac stimulant. As such in syncope, thrombosis, hæmorrhage, snake-bites, chloroform narcosis, may be given by inhalation.
The œdema and ulceration of mucous membranes produced by this powerful drug have been utilized as guiding symptoms for its use; hence in membranous croup with burning in œsophagus. Aphonia. See Causticum.
Respiratory
Difficult respiration. Accumulation of mucus with incessant coughing. Loss of voice. Burning rawness in throat. Spasm of the glottis with suffocation; patient gasps for breath. Pain in œsophagus on breathing deeply. Scraping and burning in throat and œsophagus. Uvula covered with white mucus. Nasal diphtheria, with burning excoriating discharge.
Extremities
Excessive exhaustion and muscular debility. Rheumatism of shoulders. Skin hot and dry.
Dose
First to third potency; also five to ten minims, well diluted with water.
Ammonia. Spirits of Hartshorn. NH4 OH. Solution in water.
Clinical
Aphonia. Nephritis. Œsophagitis. Rheumatism. Sloughing. Thirst. Timidity. Ulcerations. Vomiting.
Characteristics
The symptoms of caustic ammonia closely resemble those of the carbonate. The caustic nature of the drug is exemplified in the burning sensations experienced, especially in throat, gullet, and rectum. White patches on tongue and inner side of cheeks. There is intense thirst, and excessively violent ejection of stomach contents. Voice low, weak. Speech broken. Aphonia, with debility; or with burning rawness in throat. (A good all-round remedy in aphonia.) Great oppression of breathing; the patient gasps for breath. As with the carbonate there is timidity─great tendency to take fright. Shiverings. In a case of poisoning in a man who took a mouthful of a strong solution of "household ammonia" by mistake there was great swelling of mucous membrane of mouth and throat, stertorous breathing, voice muffled and husky; later, cough with …
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