PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- A Portsmouth teenager has been charged with poisoning her mother's Kool-Aid because the two had a fight.

Brittany Merrill, 17, was charged with reckless conduct, and police said the charges could be upgraded depending on the outcome of their investigation.

Police said Merrill admitted putting Lysol in her mother's Kool-Aid. Her mother drank some of it and felt her throat burning before calling 911, police said. Investigators said paramedics discovered what happened.

"They learned that the woman had ingested a poison, probably a Lysol or some other type of caustic cleaner," said Capt. Mike Schwartz.

Dawn Eaton said, "I took a drink of it, I felt it burn, I smelt it, I was like something is in there."

Police said Merrill admitted putting a capful of Lysol in her mother's Kool-Aid to get back at her after the two had a fight.

"The officer was able to detect the odor in the container that she had drank from, and that was the same smell as the Lysol that he recovered from the home," Schwartz said.

According to the police affidavit, Merrill said her mother "threw the TV remote at her and punched her in the arm and face." But police said there were no signs of assault on Merrill.

Merrill's mother refused to go to a hospital.

Eaton said, "I'm concerned for her. I don't know what's going on with her. I miss her. I love her. She is my world and no matter what has happened. She is still my daughter and I'm not turning my back on her."

According to court documents, Merrill has a lengthy juvenile history and has been violent toward her family in the past. Police said that while Merrill was being processed, she was not remorseful and made some comments that she doesn't like her mother.

Merrill remains in jail because a court order was issued that she not be near her mother, and she said she has nowhere else to go. Her next court appearance is late next month.