Atropa belladonna

Common name(S) Deadly nightshade, belladonna, black nightshade, nightshade, sleeping nightshade.

Toxin(s) Atropine and other belladonna alkaloids.

Toxic part(s) Whole plant.

Signs Ingestion causes atropine-like signs-dry mouth, repeated swallowing efforts, dysphagia, tachycardia, mydriasis, and urinary retention.

Treatment If ingestion was recent, gastric emptying by induction of emesis or lavage is appropriate. Administer activated charcoal and a cathartic. Human literature recommends slow IV administration of physostigmine to effect, that is, until symptoms abate or until cholinergic signs appear. Since belladonna alkaloids have a longer half-life than physostigmine has, repeated doses of physostigmine may be required.