Black Nightshade Poisoning

Timeline

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the plant, if known  
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Symptoms & Signs

• Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat
  • Enlarged (dilated) pupils
• Gastrointestinal
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomiting
• Heart and blood
  • Pulse - slow or rapid
  • Shock
• Lungs
  • Slowed breathing
• Nervous system
  • Delirium
  • Hallucinations
  • Headache
  • Loss of sensation
  • Paralysis
• Whole body
  • Fever
  • Lower than normal temperature
  • Sweating

Prognosis

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Ingredient

• Atropine
• Solanine (very poisonous even in small amounts)

Control

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

Care

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.

During Treatment

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Fluids by IV
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

Source

Black nightshade plant, especially in the unripened fruit and leaves.

References

Palmer M, Betz J. Plants. In: Goldfrank LR, Flomenbaum NE, Lewin NA, eds. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2002:chap 78.

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