Deadly nightshade, a flowering plant Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as deadly nightshade or belladonna, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, including Turkey, its distribution extending from England in the west to western Ukraine and the Iranian province of Gilan in the east. It is also naturalised or introduced in some parts of Canada, North Africa and the United States.
The foliage and berries are extremely toxic when ingested, containing tropane alkaloids. It can also be harmful to handle and/or touch these plants. These toxins include atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which cause delirium and hallucinations, and are also used as pharmaceutical anticholinergics. Tropane alkaloids are of common occurrence not only in the Old World tribes Hyoscyameae (to which the genus Atropa belongs) and Mandragoreae, but also in the New World tribe Datureae—all of which belong to the subfamily Solanoideae of the plant family Solanaceae.
Consumption of Atropa bella-donna has unpredictable effects. The antidote for belladonna poisoning is physostigmine or pilocarpine, the same as for atropine.
The highly toxic ripe fruit can be distinguished from that of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) by its larger berry size and larger stellate calyx (with long, broad and somewhat accrescent lobes protruding beyond the fruit) and the fact that A. bella-donna bears its berries singly, whilst S. nigrum bears spherical berries resembling tiny tomatoes in umbellate clusters.
Safety at a Glance
High Risk- General Principles
- Start low, go slow: Always begin with a low dose, especially with unfamiliar batches or new substances. Individual se...
- Toxicity: The toxicity and long-term health effects of Atropa belladonna have not been comprehensively studied in scientific li...
- Dangerous with: 1,4-Butanediol, 2-Aminoindane, 2-FA, 2-FEA (+119 more)
- Overdose risk: Limited specific overdose data is available for Atropa belladonna. In the absence of compound-spe...
If someone is in crisis, call 911 or Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Dosage
oral
Duration
oral
Total: 8 hrs – 24 hrsHow It Feels
Atropa belladonna does not open doors to other worlds so much as it dismantles the walls of this one, leaving you stranded in a reality that has come unmoored from its foundations. The onset creeps in over one to two hours, beginning with a dryness that colonizes the mouth and throat with an almost aggressive thoroughness. The tongue becomes a foreign object, thick and useless. The eyes struggle to focus, pupils dilating to enormous black discs that swallow most of the iris and turn the visual field into a blur of uncertain shapes. The heart quickens, its rhythm becoming insistent and irregular, a drummer losing time.
As the anticholinergic effects deepen, the body enters a state of profound dysregulation. The skin grows hot and dry -- sweating ceases entirely, and temperature climbs as the body loses one of its primary cooling mechanisms. Thirst becomes overwhelming but swallowing feels impossible, a cruel paradox that defines the physical experience. Coordination deteriorates rapidly. Walking becomes a lurching, uncertain enterprise, each step requiring conscious deliberation that the addled mind can barely provide. The bladder resists emptying. The gut slows to a crawl. The body, deprived of its acetylcholine-mediated housekeeping, begins to malfunction in ways both uncomfortable and alarming.
But it is the mental effects that define belladonna's terrible character. True hallucinations arrive -- not the geometric patterns or visual distortions of psychedelics, but fully formed, three-dimensional apparitions that are indistinguishable from reality. You may find yourself in conversation with a person who is not there, reaching for objects that do not exist, performing actions in spaces that have no physical counterpart. The hallmark of the deliriant state is the total absence of insight: you do not know you are hallucinating. The phantom people speak in your friend's voice. The cigarette between your fingers feels real until it vanishes. Tasks loop endlessly -- you light the same imaginary cigarette, open the same nonexistent door, over and over without recognizing the repetition.
Memory during the peak is fragmentary at best, absent at worst. Time loses not merely its linearity but its existence as a concept. Moments do not flow; they arrive in disconnected fragments, each one self-contained and unrelated to the last. Fear may surface, but it is a strange, dislocated fear, unmoored from any specific threat, a background radiation of wrongness that permeates every perception without localizing in any particular one.
The decline is slow and punishing, stretching over twelve to twenty-four hours. Vision remains blurred long after the hallucinations recede. The body stays hot and dry, the mouth still parched, the mind still foggy. Fragments of phantom experience persist at the edges of perception -- shadows that move wrong, voices just below the threshold of hearing. The return to baseline is not a relief so much as an exhausted collapse, the mind and body finally reconnecting after hours of terrifying disconnection.
Subjective Effects
The effects listed below are based on the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal reports and personal analyses. They should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism. These effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects.
Physical Effects
Physical(6)
- Dry mouth— A persistent, uncomfortable reduction in saliva production causing the mouth and throat to feel parc...
- Increased heart rate— A noticeable acceleration of heartbeat that can range from a subtle awareness of one's pulse to a fo...
- Photophobia— An abnormal physical intolerance and sensitivity to light that causes discomfort, squinting, or pain...
- Pupil dilation— A visible enlargement of the pupil diameter (mydriasis) that can range from subtle widening to drama...
- Seizure— Uncontrolled brain electrical activity causing convulsions and loss of consciousness -- a life-threa...
- Temperature regulation disruption— Impaired thermoregulation causing unpredictable fluctuations between feeling hot and cold, with risk...
Cognitive & Perceptual Effects
Visual(1)
- Geometry— The experience of perceiving complex, ever-shifting geometric patterns superimposed over the visual ...
Cognitive(3)
- Amnesia— A complete or partial inability to form new memories or recall existing ones during and after substa...
- Confusion— An impairment of abstract thinking marked by a persistent inability to grasp or comprehend concepts ...
- Delirium— Delirium is a serious and potentially dangerous state of acute mental confusion involving disorienta...
Pharmacology
Atropa belladonna produces its characteristic effects primarily through competitive antagonism at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Blockade of these receptors in the central nervous system disrupts cholinergic neurotransmission essential for attention, memory formation, sensory processing, and the distinction between internally and externally generated percepts.
Central anticholinergic effects include disorientation, memory impairment, true hallucinations (perceived as real, unlike the pseudohallucinations of psychedelics), and a characteristic delirium state. Peripheral effects include mydriasis (dilated pupils), dry mouth, urinary retention, tachycardia, decreased gastrointestinal motility, and elevated body temperature from impaired thermoregulation.
The anticholinergic delirium produced by these substances is qualitatively different from other classes of hallucinogenic experience. Users typically cannot distinguish hallucinations from reality, may interact with phantom objects or persons, and frequently have complete amnesia for the experience. These properties make deliriants particularly dangerous and unpredictable.
Detection Methods
Standard Drug Panel Inclusion
Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) is not included on standard 5-panel, 10-panel, or 12-panel immunoassay drug screens. The active tropane alkaloids atropine and scopolamine can be measured by clinical toxicology laboratories but are not targeted by standard immunoassay panels. There is no dedicated immunoassay channel for this substance on any commercially available rapid drug test.
Urine Detection
Detection of Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) or its active constituents in urine depends on the specific compound involved. In clinical settings, serum and urine toxicology may be performed using LC-MS/MS or GC-MS to identify the active compounds and their metabolites. Standard urine drug screens will not detect this substance. Detection windows vary from 1 to 4 days depending on the dose, metabolic pathway, and individual physiology.
Blood and Saliva Detection
Blood testing can detect the active compounds from Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) for approximately 12 to 48 hours depending on the half-life of the specific active constituents. Clinical toxicology laboratories can measure serum concentrations when poisoning or overdose is suspected. Saliva testing is not routinely used for this substance.
Hair Follicle Detection
Hair follicle testing for Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) is not available through standard commercial laboratories. Research-grade LC-MS/MS methods could theoretically detect incorporation of active compounds into hair, but this is not a practical detection concern for this substance.
Confirmatory Testing
GC-MS and LC-MS/MS can identify the active compounds associated with Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) in biological specimens. These methods are typically deployed in clinical toxicology, emergency medicine, and forensic contexts rather than routine drug screening. Confirmatory testing can distinguish between different compounds in the same pharmacological class.
Reagent Testing
Reagent testing has limited applicability for Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade). Standard reagent kits (Marquis, Mecke, Mandelin) are designed for purified powder or crystal substances and may not provide useful information for plant-derived preparations or pharmaceutical formulations. Identification of Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) in unknown samples is best accomplished through instrumental analysis.
Interactions
| Substance | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1,4-Butanediol | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| 2-Aminoindane | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2-FA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2-FEA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2-FMA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2,5-DMA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2C-H | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 2M2B | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| 3-FA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 3-FEA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 3-FMA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 3-FPM | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 3-MMC | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 3,4-CTMP | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 4-FA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 4-FMA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 4-MMC | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 4F-EPH | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 4F-MPH | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 5-APB | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 6-APDB | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| 8-Chlorotheophylline | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| A-PHP | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| A-PVP | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Acetylfentanyl | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Adrafinil | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Alcohol | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Alprazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Amphetamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Armodafinil | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Baclofen | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Benzodiazepines | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Benzydamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Bromantane | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Buprenorphine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Butylone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Caffeine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Cake | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Carisoprodol | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Clonazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Clonazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Clonidine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Cocaine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Codeine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Cyclazodone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Datura | Dangerous | Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure |
| Deschloroetizolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Desomorphine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Desoxypipradrol | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Dextroamphetamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Dextropropoxyphene | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Diazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Dichloropane | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Diclazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Dihydrocodeine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Diphenhydramine | Dangerous | Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure |
| Ephedrine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Ephylone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Eszopiclone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| ETH-CAT | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Ethylmorphine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Ethylone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Ethylphenidate | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Etizolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| F-Phenibut | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Fenethylline | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Fentanyl | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Flualprazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Flubromazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Flubromazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Flunitrazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Flunitrazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Gabapentin | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Gaboxadol | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| GBL | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| GHB | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Grayanotoxin | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Heroin | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Hexedrone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Hydrocodone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Hydromorphone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Isopropylphenidate | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Kratom | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Lisdexamfetamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Lorazepam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| MCPP | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| MDA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| MDMA | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| MDPV | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Mephenaqualone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Methadone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Methamphetamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Methaqualone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Methcathinone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Methiopropamine | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Methylnaphthidate | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Methylone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Methylphenidate | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Metizolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Mexedrone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Midazolam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Mirtazapine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Modafinil | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Morphine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Myristicin | Dangerous | Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure |
| N-Ethylhexedrone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| N-Methylbisfluoromodafinil | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Naloxone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| NEP | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Nicotine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Nifoxipam | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| NM-2-AI | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| O-Desmethyltramadol | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Oxiracetam | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Oxycodone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Oxymorphone | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Pentedrone | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Pentobarbital | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Pethidine | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Phenobarbital | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| Phenylpiracetam | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| Rhodiola Rosea | Dangerous | Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined |
| SAMe | Dangerous | Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure |
| 1,3-Butanediol | Caution | Unpredictable compounding of hallucinogenic effects with anticholinergic delirium |
| 1B-LSD | Caution | Unpredictable compounding of hallucinogenic effects with anticholinergic delirium |
| 1cP-AL-LAD | Caution | Unpredictable compounding of hallucinogenic effects with anticholinergic delirium |
| 1cP-LSD | Caution | Unpredictable compounding of hallucinogenic effects with anticholinergic delirium |
| 1cP-MiPLA | Caution | Unpredictable compounding of hallucinogenic effects with anticholinergic delirium |
History
Atropa bella-donna has a long history of use as a medicine, cosmetic, and poison. Known originally under various folk names (such as "deadly nightshade" in English), the plant was named Atropa bella-donna by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) when he devised his classification system. Linnaeus chose the genus name Atropa because of the poisonous properties of these plants. Atropos (lit. "unturning one"), one of the Three Fates in Greek mythology, is said to have cut a person's thread of life after her sisters had spun and measured it. Linnaeus chose the species name bella-donna ("beautiful woman" in Italian) in reference to the cosmetic use of the plant during the Renaissance.
Extracts of plants in the deadly nightshade family have been in use since at least the 4th century BC, when Mandragora (mandrake) was recommended by Theophrastus for treatment of wounds, gout, and sleeplessness, and as a love potion. In the first century BC, Cleopatra used atropine-rich extracts from the Egyptian henbane plant (also a nightshade) for the above-mentioned purpose of dilating the pupils of her eyes.
The use of deadly nightshades as a poison was known in ancient Rome, as attested by the rumour that the Roman empress Livia Drusilla used the juice of Atropa bella-donna berries to murder her husband, the emperor Augustus.
In the first century AD, Dioscorides recognised wine of mandrake as an anaesthetic for treatment of pain or sleeplessness, to be given prior to surgery or cautery. The use of nightshade preparations for anaesthesia, often in combination with opium, persisted throughout the Roman and Islamic empires and continued in Europe until superseded in the 19th century by modern anaesthetics.
The modern pharmacological study of Atropa bella-donna extracts was begun by the German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (1795–1867). In 1831, the German pharmacist Heinrich F. G. Mein (1799–1864) succeeded in preparing a pure crystalline form of the active substance, named atropine.
Harm Reduction
General Principles
- Start low, go slow: Always begin with a low dose, especially with unfamiliar batches or new substances. Individual sensitivity varies enormously.
- Test your substances: Use reagent test kits to verify identity and check for dangerous adulterants. Consider using drug checking services where available.
- Research thoroughly: Understand expected dose ranges, duration, potential interactions, and contraindications before use.
- Never use alone: Have a trusted, sober person present, especially with new substances or higher doses.
- Set and setting: Your mindset and environment profoundly influence the experience. Choose a safe, comfortable environment and ensure you're in a stable psychological state.
Atropa belladonna-Specific Harm Reduction
- Strong recommendation against recreational use: Deliriants are widely considered among the most dangerous and unpleasant psychoactive substances. The risk-benefit ratio is extremely unfavorable.
- If exposure occurs: Ensure the person is in a safe environment away from roads, water, heights, and sharp objects. They will not be able to distinguish reality from hallucination and may wander into danger.
- Medical emergency signs: Seek emergency medical attention for: extremely elevated heart rate, very high body temperature, seizures, inability to urinate, or loss of consciousness.
- No safe dose: The dose-response curve for anticholinergic deliriants is steep and unpredictable. What produces mild effects in one person may cause severe toxicity in another.
- Duration: Effects can last 12-36+ hours. Ensure continuous supervision for the entire duration.
Toxicity & Safety
The toxicity and long-term health effects of Atropa belladonna have not been comprehensively studied in scientific literature. The absence of evidence of harm is not evidence of absence — novel or under-researched substances may carry undocumented risks.
General principles of toxicological concern apply: repeated exposure to any psychoactive substance can lead to neuroadaptive changes, potential organ toxicity, and psychological dependence. The risk profile is influenced by dose, frequency of use, route of administration, individual vulnerability factors, and co-ingested substances.
Given the limited safety data available, extra caution is warranted. Use the lowest effective dose, space sessions widely, and monitor for any adverse physical or psychological changes.
It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.
Overdose Information
Limited specific overdose data is available for Atropa belladonna. In the absence of compound-specific information, general principles apply:
If someone exhibits signs of medical distress after using Atropa belladonna — difficulty breathing, severe confusion, seizures, chest pain, extremely elevated temperature, or loss of consciousness — treat it as a medical emergency. Call emergency services and be forthcoming about what was consumed. Medical professionals follow confidentiality protocols and their priority is saving lives.
Prevention remains the best approach: use the minimum effective dose, avoid combining with other substances, and always have a sober person present who can recognize signs of distress and call for help.
Dangerous Interactions
The combinations listed below may be life-threatening. Independent research should always be conducted to ensure safety when combining substances.
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding anticholinergic effects; severe risk of hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmia, and organ failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Compounding CNS depression with anticholinergic effects; risk of cardiac events and respiratory failure
Tolerance
| Full | Develops with repeated use |
| Half | 3 - 5 days |
| Zero | 1 - 2 weeks |
Cross-tolerances
Legal Status
The legal status of Atropa belladonna varies by jurisdiction and is subject to change. This information is provided for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current legislation.
General patterns: Many psychoactive substances are controlled under national and international drug control frameworks, including the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and country-specific legislation such as the US Controlled Substances Act, UK Misuse of Drugs Act, and EU Framework Decisions.
Research chemicals and analogues: Novel psychoactive substances may be captured by analogue laws (e.g., the US Federal Analogue Act) or blanket bans on substance classes (e.g., the UK Psychoactive Substances Act 2016), even if the specific compound is not individually scheduled.
Important note: Possessing, distributing, or manufacturing controlled substances carries serious legal consequences in most jurisdictions. Legal status is not a reliable indicator of a substance's safety profile — some highly dangerous substances are legal, while some with favorable safety profiles are strictly controlled.
Users are strongly encouraged to research the specific legal status of Atropa belladonna in their jurisdiction before any involvement with this substance.
Experience Reports (2)
Tips (6)
Most experienced psychonauts who have tried Atropa belladonna describe it as one of the worst and most terrifying experiences possible. The experience is rarely positive and often traumatic. Consider this seriously before proceeding.
The margin between an active dose and a lethal dose of Atropa belladonna is dangerously narrow, and alkaloid content varies wildly between individual plants, plant parts, and growing conditions. There is no way to reliably dose from raw plant material. Berries are particularly dangerous as they are sweet-tasting and attractive. Two to five berries can be fatal for a child, and ten to twenty for an adult.
Anticholinergic deliriants like Atropa belladonna have cumulative toxicity. The dose required for delirium is uncomfortably close to the dose that causes organ damage, hyperthermia, seizures, tachycardia, and death.
There is no reliable safe dose of Atropa belladonna. Potency varies wildly, individual sensitivity differs enormously, and the margin between threshold effects and life-threatening toxicity is narrow and unpredictable.
The tropane alkaloids in Atropa belladonna (atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine) produce a true deliriant state that is fundamentally different from psychedelic hallucinations. You will see and interact with things that are not there and be completely unable to distinguish them from reality. This is not recreational. The experience is typically described as dysphoric, confusing, and terrifying with a very real risk of dangerous behavior.
If someone has taken Atropa belladonna and exhibits extreme confusion, dangerously elevated heart rate, inability to urinate, dry flushed skin, or hyperthermia, seek emergency medical help immediately. Anticholinergic toxicity can be fatal.
Community Discussions (1)
See Also
References (2)
- Atropa belladonna - TripSit Factsheet
TripSit factsheet for Atropa belladonna
tripsit - Atropa belladonna - Wikipedia
Wikipedia article on Atropa belladonna
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