Belladonna : Safety

by MedlinePlus

(Page 3 of 3)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Allergies

Belladonna should be avoided in people who have had significant reactions to belladonna or anticholinergic drugs, or who are allergic to belladonna or other members of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family such as bell peppers, potatoes, and eggplants. Long-term use of belladonna on the skin can lead to allergic rashes.

Side Effects and Warnings

At a dose of up to 1.5 milligrams in a day, belladonna is traditionally thought to be safe, but may cause frequent side effects such as dilated pupils, blushing of the skin, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, confusion, nervousness, and hallucinations. Based on animal study, belladonna alkaloids may inhibit cognitive function and gastrointestinal motility. High doses can cause death.

In children, death can be caused by a small amount of belladonna, as low as 0.2 milligrams of one of the active ingredients, atropine, per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the child's weight. Therefore, 2 berries of the belladonna plant can be deadly for a small child. Several reports of accidental belladonna overdose and death are reported. In one case, the poisoning was caused by eating a rabbit that had been feeding on belladonna plant. Adults and children have died or been seriously ill after eating deadly nightshade berries ( Atropa belladonna ) or woody nightshade ( Solanum dulcamara ), a relative of belladonna. In one report, eating tomatoes grown from a plant grafted to jimson weed ( Datura stramonium ) led to death. Belladonna overdose can also occur when it is applied to the skin. Belladonna overdose is highly dangerous and should be treated by qualified medical professionals. Because belladonna can slow the movement of food and drugs through the stomach and gut, the side effects may go on long after the belladonna is swallowed.

Belladonna may cause redness of the skin, flushing, dry skin, sun sensitivity, hives and allergic rashes, even at dilute concentrations. A very serious, potentially life threatening rash called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, has been reported. This rash has red, at times blistered or painful spots on the skin, and the mouth, eyes, or genitals are sore. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Other side effects reported are headache, hyperactivity, nervousness, dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness or sedation, unsteady walking, confusion, hallucinations, slurred speech, exaggerated reflexes, convulsions, or coma. The eyes may be dilated or sensitive to light, and vision may be blurry. If pieces of belladonna are put into the eye, the pupils may be dilated permanently.

Cases report hyperventilation, coma with the loss of breathing, rapid or abnormal heart rate, and severe high blood pressure. Others report dry mouth, abdominal fullness, difficult urination, decreased perspiration, slow release of breast milk while nursing, muscle cramps or spasms, and tremors. Avoid belladonna if you have difficulty passing urine, enlarged prostate, or kidney stones, dry mouth, Sjögren syndrome, dry eyes, or glaucoma. Use caution if you have a fever. People with myasthenia gravis (a disorder of nerves and muscles) or Down's syndrome may be especially sensitive to belladonna.

Older adults and children should avoid belladonna, as there are many reports of serious effects in these age groups. Do not combine with prescribed anticholinergic agents. Check with the provider who prescribed medications to see if any of any medications are anticholinergic. People with heart disease, who have had a heart attack, fluid in the lungs, high blood pressure, or abnormal heart rhythms should avoid belladonna. Because belladonna can affect the activity of the stomach and intestines, people who have had ulcers, reflux, hiatal hernia, obstruction of the bowel, poor movement of the intestines, constipation, colitis, or an ileostomy or colostomy after surgery should avoid belladonna.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Belladonna is not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding because of the risks of side effects and poisoning. Belladonna is listed under category C according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA category C includes drugs for which no thorough studies have been published). In nursing women who use belladonna, belladonna ingredients are found in breast milk, therefore endangering infants.

Interactions

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

Interactions with Drugs

Belladonna may slow the movement of food and medication through the gut, and therefore some medications may be absorbed more slowly. Many prescribed medications can interact with anticholinergic drugs that have similar effects to belladonna. Examples include: acetophenenazine, amantadine, amitriptyline, atropine, benztropine, bethanechol, biperiden, brompheniramine, carbinoxamine, chlorpromazine, clemastine, clindinium, clozapine, cyclopentolate, cyproheptadine, dicyclomine, diphenhydramine, dixyrazine, ethopropazine, fenotherol, fluphenazine, haloperidol, homatropine, hyoscyamine, ipratropium, loxapine, mesoridazine, methdilazine, methotrimeprazine, olanzapine, oxybutynin, perazine, periciazine, perphenazine, pimozide, pipotiazine, prochlorperazine, procyclidine, promazine, promethazine, propiomazine, quinidine, scopolamine, thiethylperazine, thioridazine, thiothixene, trifluoperazine, triflupromazine, trihexyphenidyl, trimeprazine, and triprolidine.

Atropine is an ingredient in belladonna. Theoretically, drugs that interact with atropine may also interact with belladonna. Examples include: ambenonium, arbutamine, cisapride, cromolyn, halothane, methacholine, and procainamide. Some antidepressant medications (tricyclic drugs) can interact with belladonna. The effects of the drug cisapride, used to increase the movement of food through the stomach, may be blocked. Medications that can increase heart rate, especially procainamide, can cause an exaggerated increase in heart rate if given with belladonna. The use of alcohol with belladonna can cause extreme slowing of brain function. Some of the effects belladonna has on the brain may be treatable with the prescription drug tacrine (Cognex®).

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements

Belladonna may slow the movement of food and medication through the gut, and therefore some supplements may be absorbed more slowly. The use of belladonna with supplements that have anticholinergic activity may increase its effects and worsen its side effects. Examples of anticholinergic herbs include bittersweet ( Solanum dulcamara ), henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) , and Jimson weed ( Datura stramonium ).

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