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  • WellsiteGeoWellsiteGeo@masto.ai
    Aug 19, 2026, 8:30 AM

    2/n
    My industry has mythology about phenolpthalein, an acid-base indicator chemical which is allegedly a strong diuretic and which we always have in the chemical cupboard. There've been a good number of people whose coffee I've *considered* spiking.
    Never done it - the mental image of them desperate to piss was sufficient relief for however they'd irked me - but the thought has crossed my mind. Followed by "What dosage? I have a 250g bottle."

    Now I'm wondering if they'd piss pink in overdose.

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  • WellsiteGeoWellsiteGeo@masto.ai
    Aug 19, 2026, 8:41 AM

    Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolph

    Section 1.2, "The discovery of phenolphthalein's laxative effect was due to an attempt by the Hungarian government to label genuine local white wine with the substance in 1900. Phenolphthalein did not change the taste of the wine and would change color when a base is added, making it a good label in principle. However, it was found that ingestion of the substance led to diarrhea."

    Oh, the playful innocence of 1900 chemistry!

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  • WellsiteGeoWellsiteGeo@masto.ai
    Aug 19, 2026, 8:49 AM

    FTFA(BBC) "The use of diuretics in this way is "very unusual" according to [name], who runs the pilot at [] Hospital. He says he has never seen anything like it in 26 years as a toxicologist. The lab routinely tests for 400 substances and "now, in France, we are looking for diuretics", he adds."

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  • Charlie Strosscstross@wandering.shop
    Aug 19, 2026, 10:38 AM

    @WellsiteGeo IIRC it's not a diuretic, it's a very powerful laxative. Liquishits that might sound like urination from outside the cubicle door ...

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