When I began my rotation at the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) in July 2025, I expected to learn about poisons and antidotes, the tools we have to counteract the effects of a poison. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply I would be drawn to the public health mission of toxicology, where patient care, community protection and teamwork converge.
Every phone call to the poison center represents a life moment that matters: a parent worried about a child who swallowed cleaning solution, an emergency medicine physician stabilizing a patient experiencing an overdose, or a nurse facing an unfamiliar toxic exposure in a rural clinic. Each scenario is urgent, unpredictable and profoundly human.
As a fourth-year pharmacy student, I was not just an observer. I was actively engaged in analyzing toxicology results, reviewing histories, and helping shape supportive care recommendations. The toxicologists and poison specialists treated every case not just as a medical emergency, but as a teaching opportunity. Even in the most serious situations, IPC never stopped being a classroom.
One case that left a lasting impression involved a patient with severe phenibut toxicity. Phenibut has been used in some countries to treat depression but it’s not approved for use in the United States. However, it can be easily obtained online where it is sold as a dietary supplement to improve mood, focus and cognitive abilities. The patient’s phenibut use had pushed him into a rapid decline. He arrived agitated and vomiting, then progressed to sudden, involuntary muscle jerks before his mental status collapsed, his breathing slowed, and his heart rate plummeted. Our team’s recommendations: airway protection, fluids, careful monitoring and symptomatic care to stabilize him. That case underscored not only the risks of unregulated supplements, as this person had allegedly purchased this product online from Russia, but also the importance of poison centers in bridging science and patient safety.
What has struck me most about IPC is that its role extends far beyond emergency response. Poison centers form a national safety net, answering over 2.4 million cases each year, fielding about one exposure call every 15 seconds. They save lives, and they save money. For every $1 invested, poison centers return more than $13 in healthcare savings through reduced ER visits, shorter hospitalizations and improved productivity. Altogether, this translates to over $1.8 billion saved annually, at a cost of just 43 cents per American per year. Few public health programs provide such immense value at such little cost.
Perhaps the most inspiring part of IPC is the collaboration that occurs with every call for help. Toxicologists, pharmacists, nurses and physicians work together seamlessly, each bringing a unique perspective but sharing the same goal: to protect the patient. Observing this teamwork firsthand re-emphasized my understanding of pharmacy as not simply dispensing medications but serving as an integral voice in patient care and public health.
This rotation has sharpened my clinical judgment and reinforced the importance of anticipating complications before they arise. More than that, it has shown me the quiet heroism that happens behind the scenes: the calm voices on the phone, the careful calculations, and the quick but thoughtful decisions that make the difference between crisis and stability.
The Illinois Poison Center was more than a rotation site; it has been a classroom without walls, a place for real-world learning, and a glimpse into the true impact of toxicology on both patients and the healthcare system. My hope is that more pharmacy students will seek out these experiences. The work may be intense, but the lessons endure. In a healthcare system where seconds count, poison centers prove every day that knowledge, vigilance and collaboration can save lives.
IPC invites all people living/working in Illinois and aged 13 or older to take advantage of the free, online Poison Prevention Education Course (available in English and Spanish). After completing the course, you’ll have access to a variety of free education and promotion materials (stickers, magnets, safety packets, activity books/sheets, compact travel mirrors, posters, etc.).
By: Martin Nwanguma, PharmD Candidate
