Tropane (anticholinergic) poisoning

Tropane (anticholinergic) poisoning: how soon does it show?

Thirty minutes to a few hours; longer from the skin.

How does it run?

“Red as a beet, dry as a bone, blind as a bat, hot as a hare, mad as a hatter”: flushing, dry mouth, dilated pupils, fever, a fast heart, delirium with vivid hallucination and no memory of it, then coma. The flying ointments of the witches worked by these.

What is done for it?

Physostigmine, the specific antidote, with care; benzodiazepines; cooling.

Historical and descriptive, not medical advice. In a poisoning, call a poison centre or emergency services.

Which substances in the database cause it?

D

PlantDeadly nightshadeBelladonna; Italian belladonna, “beautiful lady” Atropa belladonna, of the nightshade family.Caution

H

Plant HenbaneHyoscyamus; Greek hyoskyamos, “hog’s bean” Hyoscyamus niger, of the nightshade family.Caution

M

Plant MandrakeMandragora; Greek mandragoras; Hebrew dudaim Mandragora officinarum and its relatives, of the nightshade family.Caution

N

PlantNutmeg and cloveNoce moscata; garofoli Myristica fragrans and Syzygium aromaticum.Canale

T

PlantThorn appleStramonium; Jimsonweed Datura stramonium, of the nightshade family.Deadly

W

PlantWoody nightshadeBittersweet; Dulcamara Solanum dulcamara, a climbing nightshade of hedges, with purple and yellow flowers and scarlet berries.Caution