As strychnine poisoning progresses, tachycardia ( rapid heart beat ), hypertension ( high blood pressure ), tachypnea ( rapid breathing ), cyanosis ( blue discoloration ), diaphoresis ( sweating ), water-electrolyte imbalance, leukocytosis ( high number of white blood cells ), trismus ( lockjaw ), risus sardonicus ( spasm of the facial muscles ), and opisthotonus ( dramatic spasm of the back muscles, causing arching of the back and neck ) can occur.
