Trigoxin: The Real-Life Parallels Behind ‘Run’s Paralysis Pill
If you’re a fan of Hulu’s film “Run”, you probably remember its chilling plot twist involving a medication named Trigoxin. So what is Trigoxin, and does it mirror any real drugs?
“Run” stars Sarah Paulson as Diane, a mother caring for her daughter Chloe, played by Kiera Allen. Chloe uses a wheelchair and takes a daily regimen of pills for what she is told are several illnesses.
The twist? Chloe has been deliberately kept sick by her mother.
The central mystery revolves around a green pill that Diane says is Trigoxin, a heart medication.
A pharmacist tells Chloe the pill is actually “Ridocaine”, a drug meant for dogs that can cause paralysis in a person’s legs.
The Truth Behind Trigoxin
Trigoxin does not exist. Its name and purpose resemble a real heart drug, digoxin.
According to MedlinePlus, digoxin is used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. It helps the heart work better and helps control the heart rate.
Digoxin is a prescription medicine. People who take it need regular checkups, including EKGs and blood tests, and their dose may need adjusting.
The Green Pill’s Real-World Inspiration
Ridocaine is fictional too. Its name sounds like lidocaine, a real local anesthetic.
Lidocaine numbs a small area. It comes as creams, gels, sprays, patches, injections and a viscous mouth rinse used for sore mouths and throats.
Lidocaine is not a pill that paralyzes your legs. The movie’s drug is a dramatic invention, not a real medicine.
Conclusion
“Run” uses made-up drugs for its story. Trigoxin echoes digoxin, and Ridocaine borrows its sound from lidocaine, but neither works the way the film shows.
If you have questions about a medicine you or a family member takes, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Sources
- Digoxin, MedlinePlus
- Lidocaine Viscous Oral Rinse, MedlinePlus
