BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBlack nightshade poisoningNightshade poisoning; Morelle noire poisoning; Wonderberry poisoningBlack nightshade poisoning occurs when someone eats pieces of the black nightshade plant.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient The poisonous ingredients are:Atropine Solanine (which is very poisonous, even in small amounts) Where Found Poisons are found in the black nightshade plant, especially in the unripened fruit and leaves. Symptoms Black nightshade poisoning can affect many areas of the body.EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROAT Dry mouth Enlarged (dilated) pupils STOMACH AND INTESTINESDiarrhea Stomach pain Vomiting HEART AND BLOOD Pulse -- slow Pulse -- slowPalpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure (shock)ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article LUNGSSlowed breathingSlowed breathingMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NERVOUS SYSTEMDelirium (agitation and confusion) DeliriumDelirium is sudden severe confusion due to rapid changes in brain function that can occur with physical or mental illness.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hallucinations HallucinationsHallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Headache Loss of sensation Loss of sensationNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ParalysisParalysisMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article WHOLE BODYSweating or dry skin Elevated body temperature (hyperthermia) Home Care Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider. Before Calling Emergency Get the following information:Person's age, weight, and condition Name and part of the plant that was swallowed, if known Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 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. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:Activated charcoal Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including oxygen through a tube through the mouth into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator) Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (IV) Medicines to treat symptoms and reverse the effects of the poison (antidote) Outlook (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.Symptoms last for 1 to 3 days and may require a hospital stay. Death is unlikely.DO NOT touch or eat any unfamiliar plant. Wash your hands after working in the garden or walking in the woods.Open ReferencesReferencesAuerbach PS, Constance BB, Freer L. Toxic plants. In: Auerbach PS, Constance BB, Freer L, eds. Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 40.Graeme KA. Toxic plant ingestions. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 65.Higgins T. Wild plant and mushroom poisoning. In: Higgins T, ed. Medicine for the Outdoors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:422-430.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Nonbacterial food poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 740.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 11/2/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. 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Black nightshade poisoningNightshade poisoning; Morelle noire poisoning; Wonderberry poisoningBlack nightshade poisoning occurs when someone eats pieces of the black nightshade plant.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient The poisonous ingredients are:Atropine Solanine (which is very poisonous, even in small amounts) Where Found Poisons are found in the black nightshade plant, especially in the unripened fruit and leaves. Symptoms Black nightshade poisoning can affect many areas of the body.EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROAT Dry mouth Enlarged (dilated) pupils STOMACH AND INTESTINESDiarrhea Stomach pain Vomiting HEART AND BLOOD Pulse -- slow Pulse -- slowPalpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure (shock)ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article LUNGSSlowed breathingSlowed breathingMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NERVOUS SYSTEMDelirium (agitation and confusion) DeliriumDelirium is sudden severe confusion due to rapid changes in brain function that can occur with physical or mental illness.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hallucinations HallucinationsHallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Headache Loss of sensation Loss of sensationNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ParalysisParalysisMuscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article WHOLE BODYSweating or dry skin Elevated body temperature (hyperthermia) Home Care Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider. Before Calling Emergency Get the following information:Person's age, weight, and condition Name and part of the plant that was swallowed, if known Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 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. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:Activated charcoal Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including oxygen through a tube through the mouth into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator) Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (IV) Medicines to treat symptoms and reverse the effects of the poison (antidote) Outlook (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.Symptoms last for 1 to 3 days and may require a hospital stay. Death is unlikely.DO NOT touch or eat any unfamiliar plant. Wash your hands after working in the garden or walking in the woods.Open ReferencesReferencesAuerbach PS, Constance BB, Freer L. Toxic plants. In: Auerbach PS, Constance BB, Freer L, eds. Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 40.Graeme KA. Toxic plant ingestions. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 65.Higgins T. Wild plant and mushroom poisoning. In: Higgins T, ed. Medicine for the Outdoors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:422-430.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Nonbacterial food poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 740.