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by Traubenfuchs 885 days ago
> In particular cicutoxin (the active molecule) seems to hyper-excite the receptors involving GABA

Other way round. Cicutoxin is an ANTagonist to GABA receptors, pretty much the opposite of classical sleeping pills (benzodiazepines and z-drugs). As such, taking it is probably extremely similar to delirium tremens, the potentially deadly manifestation of alcohol, benzo or z-drug withdrawal after severe addiction. A horrid way to go.

Hyper excitation of GABA receptors would lead to coma and potentially death via cardiac arrest or pulmonary aspiration -if it happens, death by benzo overdose must be a truly gentle death, but rather unreliable even with extreme dosages I would assume.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicutoxin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_overdose

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens