An Oakland Park woman has been arrested over a year after her grandson died from overdosing on an antihistamine medication while in her care, officials said.
Tibina Louissant, 53, was arrested Friday for aggravated manslaughter of a child and was released Saturday after posting bail, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday.
Louissant was watching her 11-month-old grandson Josiah Fenelus for the weekend in August 2022 when he became unresponsive, the Sheriff’s Office said. Oakland Park deputies and Oakland Park Fire Rescue were called to Louissant’s home about 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 21, and Josiah was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The baby did not suffer any medical issues prior to his death, the Sheriff’s Office said. The autopsy ruling his death a homicide was finalized in mid-August.
The autopsy found a deadly amount of cyproheptadine in Josiah’s body, the Sheriff’s Office said, a prescription-only antihistamine that can be used to treat allergic reactions and skin issues. Two baby bottles in Louissant’s home tested positive for cyproheptadine, and Louissant told detectives she was the only person who prepared the baby’s bottles while she was caring for him.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the medicine should not be used in newborn or premature infants.
“Overdosage of antihistamines, particularly in infants and young children, may produce hallucinations, central nervous system depression, convulsions, respiratory and cardiac arrest, and death,” the FDA says.
The FDA issued a warning in April on a drug called Apetamin made overseas that contains cyproheptadine after reviewing incidents of adverse side effects from it being illegally marketed for weight gain and figure enhancement.
“Because cyproheptadine is a strong antihistamine, which is often used to treat symptoms of allergies, it can cause sedation, cognitive impairment, dizziness, and low blood pressure,” the FDA warning said.
Louissant’s attorney information was not immediately available Monday afternoon, and she could not be reached by phone. Josiah’s parents could also not be reached by phone Monday afternoon.