Belladonna : Dosing

by MedlinePlus

(Page 2 of 3)

The below doses are based on scientific research, publications, traditional use, or expert opinion. Many herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested, and safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients, even within the same brand. The below doses may not apply to all products. You should read product labels, and discuss doses with a qualified healthcare provider before starting therapy.

Standardization

Standardization involves measuring the amount of certain chemicals in products to try to make different preparations similar to each other. It is not always known if the chemicals being measured are the "active" ingredients. There is currently no widely used standardization for the preparation of belladonna. Doses of belladonna are often calculated in milligrams of total alkaloids. Atropa belladonna contains up to 20 different tropane alkaloid compounds. The leaves and roots have different amounts of the individual tropane alkaloids. Non-homeopathic dilutions of belladonna should be clearly labeled with the amount of the ingredient group "tropane alkaloid."

Adults (18 years and older)

Oral (by mouth):

Traditional dosing: A traditional dose of belladonna leaf powder is 50 to 100 milligrams, with a maximum single dose of 200 milligrams (0.6 milligrams of total alkaloids, calculated as the ingredient hyoscyamine) and a maximum daily dose of 600 milligrams. A traditional dose of belladonna root is 50 milligrams, with a maximum single dose of 100 milligrams (0.5 milligrams of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine) and a maximum daily dose of 300 milligrams. A traditional dose of belladonna extract is 10 milligrams, with a maximum single dose of 100 milligrams (0.5 milligrams of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine) and a maximum daily dose of 150 milligrams. The expert German panel, the Commission E, suggests these doses mainly for the treatment of "gastrointestinal spasm." For tincture of belladonna (composed of 27 to 33 milligrams of belladonna leaf alkaloids in 100 milliliters of alcohol), informal reports suggest either a total dose of 1.5 milligrams daily (divided into 3 doses daily with a double dose at bedtime) or a dose of 0.6 to 1 milliliters (0.18 to 0.3 milligrams of belladonna leaf alkaloids) taken 3 to 4 times daily.

Irritable bowel syndrome: Studies report several doses and preparations of belladonna for irritable bowel, including: Hyoscine butylbromide (10 milligrams by mouth, taken four times daily); a combination preparation containing 0.25 milligrams levorotatory alkaloids of belladonna and 50 milligrams phenobarbital; and Donnatal® tablets (0.1037 milligrams hyoscyamine sulfate, 0.0194 milligrams atropine sulfate, 0.0065 milligrams hyoscine hydrobromide, 16.2 milligrams phenobarbital). One study used a higher dose (8 milligrams belladonna and 30 milligrams phenobarbital), but because belladonna is potentially dangerous in high doses, this dose may not be safe.

Nervous system disorders: One human study reports a dose of a combination formula (made of 15 milligrams belladonna, 60 milligrams ergot alkaloids, 15 milligrams propranolol, and 25 milligrams amobarbital), taken three times daily for two weeks.

Headache: Studies have used the combination product Bellergal® (40 milligrams phenobarbital, 0.6 milligrams ergotamine tartrate, 0.2 milligrams levorotatory alkaloids of belladonna), taken by mouth twice daily.

Menopausal symptoms: A study using Bellergal® Retard (total daily dose: 80 milligrams phenobarbital, 1.2 milligrams ergotamine tartrate, 0.4 milligrams levorotatory alkaloids of belladonna) for 4 weeks reports no benefit.

Premenstrual syndrome: One study used Bellergal® (40 milligrams phenobarbital, 0.6 milligrams ergotamine tartrate, 0.2 milligrams levorotatory alkaloids of belladonna) taken by mouth twice daily for 10 days before the menstrual period was expected.

Homeopathic dosing: Homeopathic doses often depend on the symptom being treated and the style of the prescribing provider. Dosing practices may therefore vary widely. Usually, a homeopathic product is diluted several times. For example, belladonna may be diluted by 100 (one teaspoon belladonna added to 99 teaspoons water) in the first round, and this new, dilute mixture may be diluted 30-fold (1 teaspoon of the dilute mixture added to 29 teaspoons water).

The naming of these dilutions follows a complicated set of definitions. As examples, when a supplement is diluted by 10 and then this mix is diluted by 30, it has a strength of 30X or 30D. When a supplement is first diluted by 100 and then diluted again by 30, it is referred to as 30C. 'Proving studies' have been conducted to observe the effects of homeopathic belladonna in healthy volunteers. These studies have used preparations of Belladonna 30CH (Deutsche Homöopathie Union, Karlsruhe; Germany) and Belladonna C30 (Ainsworth's Homeopathic Pharmacy; UK), dosed as 1 tablet by mouth twice daily.

Radiation burn: A study of patients treated with radiation for cancer reports a dose of Belladonna 7CH (Laboratoires Boiron; France), taken as 3 granules under the tongue twice daily, with no reduction in rash severity.

Topical (applied to the skin):

Muscle and bone aches: A belladonna plaster produced by Cuxson Gerrard (England) containing 0.25% belladonna alkaloids (hyoscine 2%, atropine 1%) is described in a case report. Long-term use may cause a rash at the site of the plaster.

Children (younger than 18 years)

By mouth:

Traditional Dosing: Informal reports describe a typical dose of 0.03 milliliters for each kilogram of weight, taken by mouth three times daily. Another dose that has been used is 0.8 milliliters for each square meter of body surface area, taken by mouth three times daily (27 to 33 milligrams of belladonna leaf alkaloids in 100 milliliters). The maximum dose is reported as 3.5 milliliters in a day. Safety and effectiveness have not been proven.

Airway obstruction: One study in infants reports using a tincture of belladonna, in a dose equal to 0.01 milligrams of atropine for each kilogram of the infant's weight, at bedtime.

Note: Death in children may occur at 0.2 milligrams of atropine for each kilogram of a child's weight. Since 2 milligrams of atropine are often found in a fruit, just 2 fruits may be deadly for a small child.

Homeopathic dosing:Homeopathic doses often depend on the symptom being treated and the style of the prescribing provider. Dosing practices may therefore vary widely. Usually, a homeopathic product is diluted several times. For example, belladonna may be diluted by 100 (one teaspoon belladonna added to 99 teaspoons water) in the first round, and this new, dilute mixture may be diluted 30-fold (1 teaspoon of the dilute mixture added to 29 teaspoons water). The naming of these dilutions follows a complicated set of definitions. As examples, when a supplement is diluted by 10 and then this mix is diluted by 30, it has a strength of 30X or 30D. When a supplement is first diluted by 100 and then diluted again by 30, it is referred to as 30C.

Ear infection: A study in children comparing homeopathic with prescription medications reports using Belladonna 30X globules (brand and dose not specified).

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