These may not be important distinctions in a Hollywood action movie, but the differences are critical for patients in the real world suffering with digoxin toxicity. The medication he injected would have likely sufficed, although lidocaine itself can also contribute to dysrhythmias if not dosed properly. This might also explain his use of a defibrillator, a treatment physicians say might trigger even worse heart dysrythmias – or stop the heartbeat altogether. Of course, Bond films rely on sensationalized drama. Chronic toxicity can be more insidious and harder to diagnose. Yet while the film may have gotten the symptoms of digitalis toxicity right, the timing was off: digitalis toxicity typically takes at least six hours to show its effects in the acute setting. So it makes sense that, in large doses, you might experience – as Bond does – a pounding feeling in the chest (i.e., dysrhythmias), as well as dizziness, nausea, and confusion.

Digitalis toxicity typically results in patients being hospitalized in some cases, it can even be fatal.īroadly speaking, digitalis strengthens the heart’s ability to contract blood, increasing blood flow throughout the body. But in a medical context, such toxicity typically occurs in patients undergoing digitalis therapy for congestive heart failure and/or irregular heartbeats such as atrial fibrillation.

In Casino Royale, digitalis toxicity (or overdose) is part of Le Chiffre’s evil plan. If not for Vesper Lynd rushing to the scene and shocking him back to life, the movie might have ended right there.Īs manufacturers of the only antidote for digitalis toxicity, we recall this scene with interest, asking: Is this an accurate portrayal of its effects? Its treatment? Just as his heart is about to stop he presses the button on the defibrillator, but to no avail: the wires aren’t connected. He takes a sip and the world begins to blur: delirious, he rushes to the bathroom with a salt shaker and attempts to vomit unsuccessful, he goes to his car and calls MI6, who tell him he’s been poisoned with digitalis – and is going into cardiac arrest.īond, heart pounding, places a defibrillator on his chest and injects himself in the neck with lidocaine.

In 2006’s Casino Royale, Bond – James Bond – has something slipped into his martini during a high-stakes poker tournament with resident bad guy, Le Chiffre.

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