Warning over toxic poppy seeds after 19 patients seek hospital care with two in ICU

They suffered seizures and tachycardia after brewing poppy seed tea which is known for its opioid effects

More than a dozen patients have landed in hospital — with two in the ICU — after drinking home-brewed tea using up to 1kg of poppy seeds, presumably as a narcotic. 

Last year, Australian addiction experts published the first ever case report about a man who needed treatment for opioid misuse solely due to his daily reliance on poppy seed tea. 

Now, the Victorian, NSW and WA health departments have issued safety alerts following a swathe of hospitalisations likely due to severe toxicity from thebaine, an opioid alkaloid that coats the seeds. 

As of last Friday, at least 19 people had presented to EDs with symptoms including tachycardia, seizures, acute kidney injury, and limb stiffness or jerking after using 120g-1000g of poppy seeds to make the tea.