Identification of the rodenticide coumatetralyl in seized tablets

Abstract Tales of tablets laced with rat poison are often used to caution against the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or are attributed to a bad batch of tablets associated with specific adverse health events. However, the absence of confirmed reports of tablets containing a rodenticide suggest these tales are more likely urban myths. The presence of rodenticides in the drug market has the potential to cause serious adverse health effects, as was observed recently with the use of synthetic cannabis containing brodifacoum, which resulted in numerous hospitalisations and fatalities. This report describes the identification of the anti-coagulant rodenticide coumatetralyl in four recent cases of similar, seized tablets. Due to the lower toxicity of coumatetralyl compared with brodifacoum, the determined tablet dosage would be unlikely to result in health effects after consumption of a single tablet. However, repeat consumption of multiple tablets would increase the risk of toxicity.