Patient handout for Jimson Weed
Jimson Weed
Jimson Weed
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Datura stramonium, synonyms Datura inermis, Datura lurida,  read more... Datura tatula
FAMILY
Solanaceae

CAUTION: Do not confuse Jimson Weed with other plants with similar scientific names, such as Angel's Trumpet (Datura suaveolens) and Datura wrightii.

+ Other Common Names

  • Angel Tulip, Chasse-Taupe, Datura, Datura Officinal, Datura Parviflora, Devil's Apple, Devil's Trumpet, Endormeuse, Estramonio, Herbe du Diable, Herbe aux Magiciens, Herbe aux Sorciers, Herbe aux Taupes, Higuera del Diablo, Jamestown Weed, Locoweed, Mad-Apple, Man Tao Luo, Nightshade, Peru-Apple, Pomme Épineuse, Pomme Poison, Pommette Féroce, Stinkweed, Stinkwort, Stramoine, Stramoine Commune, Stramonium, Thorn-Apple, Trompette des Anges, Trompette de la Mort, Yiang Jin Hua.

Overview

Jimson weed grows throughout the world and has been recognized as an hallucinogenic plant for centuries (57098). It has reportedly been used by the native peoples of North America (57071), as a treatment for asthma in India (57071), and as a home remedy in colonial times in West Virginia (57151).

WARNINGS

Children and adolescents may use jimson weed recreationally, but it is unsafe. Parents should be cautioned about the online availability of jimson weed for purchase (57081). There are numerous reports of severe toxicity, including death, from use of jimson weed. Jimson weed has also led to death after accidental consumption when it was confused for other edible plants (18,57083,57081,109503).

Safety

UNSAFE ...when the leaf or seed are used orally or via inhalation (13,5622). Although all parts of the jimson weed plant contain toxic belladonna alkaloids, the seeds contain the highest quantity (5623). Ingestion of jimson weed can cause acute anticholinergic poisoning and death (17,5621,5622). The lethal dose for adults is 15-100 grams of jimson weed leaf or 15-25 grams of the seeds (equivalent to 100 mg atropine) (18).

CHILDREN: UNSAFE ...when the seed or leaf are used orally or via inhalation. Although all parts of the jimson weed plant contain toxic belladonna alkaloids, the seeds contain the highest quantity (5623). Ingestion of jimson weed can cause acute anticholinergic poisoning and death (17,5621,5622). Children are more sensitive to the toxic effects of jimson weed than adults, and the lethal dose is lower (18). The lethal dose in children is less than 1.5-10 grams of jimson weed leaf or less than 1.5-2.5 grams of the seeds (equivalent to 10 mg or less of atropine) (57144).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: UNSAFE ...when used orally (2); avoid using.

+ Adverse Effects

General: Orally, jimson weed is unsafe.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Anticholinergic effects, such as abdominal pain, altered mental status, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, nausea, tachycardia, urinary retention, and vomiting.

Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

Orally: Anticholinergic toxicity, death.
  • + Cardiovascular

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as hypertension, tachycardia, and arrhythmia (57099,57156,57067,57103,57151,57152,57129,109502,113142).
  • + Dermatologic

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as dry, red, flushed, or hot skin and decreased perspiration (57089,57146,113142).
  • + Gastrointestinal

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, decreased bowel sounds, and difficulty swallowing (13,18,5623,109502,113142).
  • + Genitourinary

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as urinary retention (57129,57152,57151,109502).
  • + Hematologic

    Orally, jimson weed has been reported to cause thrombocytopenia in one patient (109502).
  • + Hepatic

    Orally, jimson weed can cause hepatotoxic events, including fulminant hepatitis (57091).
  • + Musculoskeletal

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as leg cramps, muscle tremor, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis (57089,57146,113142).
  • + Neurologic/CNS

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as memory loss, attention impairment, confusion, hallucinations, slurred speech, psychosis, agitated delirium, seizures, and coma (57067,57075,57077,57078,57084,57085,57098,57103,57108,57116)(57120,57140,57148,57151,57152,57156,109502,113142).
  • + Ocular/Otic

    Orally, jimson weed can cause anticholinergic side effects such as blurred vision and mydriasis (57120,57133,57151,57151,57116,57121,109502,113142). Topically, direct exposure of the eye to jimson weed alkaloids can also cause mydriasis (57061).
  • + Other

    Orally, jimson weed can block muscarinic cholinergic neurons and cause anticholinergic side effects. Larger amounts of jimson weed intake can also lead to toxicity and anticholinergic syndrome. Central anticholinergic symptoms, which are dose-dependent, include muscle tremor and rigidity, leg cramps, hallucinations, slurred speech, psychosis, agitated delirium, seizures, coma, cardiovascular collapse, or respiratory failure. Peripheral anticholinergic symptoms include dilated pupils, blurry vision, dry mouth, flushed skin, tachycardia, arrhythmias, fever, hypertension or hypotension, and difficulty urinating (636,57067,57075,57077,57078,57084,57085,57098,57103,57108)(57116,57120,57140,57148,57151,57152,57156,113142). There are also numerous reports of death after jimson weed ingestion (5622,57067,57086,57088,109503). The lethal dose of jimson weed for adults is 15-100 grams of leaf or 15-25 grams of the seeds (equivalent to 100 mg atropine) (18). Jimson weed toxicity seems to occur 1-12 hours after ingestion (57084,57092,109502).

    Children and adolescents are more susceptible to jimson weed toxicity. The lethal dose of atropine in this population is 10 mg or less. There are numerous case reports of anticholinergic toxicity in children and adolescents ingesting jimson weed seeds accidentally and recreationally (57098,57129,57144,95448,95449,95450,95451,95452,113142). Some children ingested leaves that were packed into jimson weed cigarettes; others ingested several hundred seeds (57116).

Effectiveness

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
Asthma. Although there has been interest in using oral jimson weed for asthma, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of jimson weed for this purpose.

Bronchitis. Although there has been interest in using oral jimson weed for bronchitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of jimson weed for this purpose.

Cough. Although there has been interest in using oral jimson weed for cough, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of jimson weed for this purpose.

Influenza. Although there has been interest in using oral jimson weed for influenza, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of jimson weed for this purpose.

More evidence is needed to rate jimson weed for these uses.

Dosing & Administration

  • Adult

    Oral:

    Research is limited; typical dosing is unavailable.
  • Standardization & Formulation

    There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of jimson weed.

+ Interactions with Drugs

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Interaction RatingModerate Be cautious with this combination.
Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D
Theoretically, jimson weed may increase anticholinergic effects and adverse effects.
+ Details
Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Use with other anticholinergic drugs may cause additive effects (2,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

+ Interactions with Supplements

ANTICHOLINERGIC HERBS: Theoretically, jimson weed may increase anticholinergic effects and adverse effects.
+ Details
Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Use with other anticholinergic herbs may cause additive effects (2,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147). See other herbs with anticholinergic activity here.

+ Interactions with Conditions

+ CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF)

Use of jimson weed in patients with CHF is contraindicated. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed might cause tachycardia and exacerbate CHF (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147,109502).

+ CONSTIPATION

Use of jimson weed in patients with constipation is contraindicated. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed might cause constipation (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

+ DOWN SYNDROME

Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Patients with Down syndrome might be hypersensitive to antimuscarinic effects (mydriasis, positive chronotropic heart effects, etc.) (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

+ EPILEPSY

Use of jimson weed in patients with epilepsy is contraindicated. Use of jimson weed can cause seizures (57151,57152).

+ GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS

Jimson weed should be avoided in patients with gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammatory disorders, infections, obstructions, esophageal reflux, ulcers, or hiatal hernias. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed might delay gastric emptying and lower esophageal pressure, exacerbating these conditions (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

+ NARROW-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Use of jimson weed in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma is contraindicated. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed might increase ocular tension in patients with narrow-angle (angle-closure) glaucoma (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

+ TACHYARRHYTHMIAS

Use of jimson weed in patients with tachyarrhythmias is contraindicated. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed can cause tachycardia (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147,109502).

+ URINARY RETENTION

Use of jimson weed in patients with urinary retention is contraindicated. Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Anticholinergics in jimson weed might increase urinary retention (2,15,506,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

Interactions with Lab Tests

None known.

Overdose

Presentation

Overdose with jimson weed generally presents as anticholinergic toxicity from the alkaloid constituents, such as atropine and scopolamine. This may include dry mouth, dry eyes, dilated pupils, blurred vision, tachycardia, altered mental status, fever, and abdominal pain (109502,109503,113142). Onset of symptoms can occur rapidly, within 1-12 hours after consumption (57084,57092,109502,113142). Overdoses are also common from accidental ingestions, where jimson weed is mistaken for edible plants or a contaminant within other harvested plants (109502,109503,113142). Sometimes anticholinergic jimson weed intoxication is confused with sympathomimetic bath salts or cathinone intoxication. A common differentiating symptom is the absence of sweating with jimson weed intoxication, as opposed to hyper-perspiration with sympathomimetic intoxication (95453).

Deaths from accidental overdose with jimson weed have been reported (18,109503). The lethal dose of jimson weed for adults is 15-100 grams of leaf or 15-25 grams of the seeds (equivalent to 100 mg atropine) (18). The lethal dose in children is less than 1.5-10 grams of jimson weed leaf or less than 1.5-2.5 grams of the seeds (equivalent to 10 mg or less of atropine) (57144).

Treatment

Treatment of jimson weed overdose should mirror treatment of anticholinergic toxicity and may include physostigmine, neostigmine, activated charcoal, and/or intravenous fluids. Gastric lavage has also been used (57153,57065,57066,57073,57077,57065,57098,57099,57111,57151)(57154,57156,109502). Benzodiazepines have also been used (57082,113142); however, in one observational study, there was no difference in hospital stay or condition severity when benzodiazepines were given with or without physostigmine (57082).

Commercial Products Containing: Jimson Weed


Pharmacokinetics

Distribution: After oral administration, atropine and scopolamine, constituents of jimson weed, distribute into the blood (57099). After chronic oral use, atropine and scopolamine can be detected in hair (95451).

Excretion: The active constituents of jimson weed, including scopolamine and atropine, appear to be primarily renally eliminated (5622,57129,57146).


Mechanism of Action

General: The applicable parts of jimson weed are the leaf and seed. Jimson weed contains 0.1-0.6% alkaloids including atropine, l-hyoscyamine and l-scopolamine which are responsible for anticholinergic activity and toxicity (2,57079,57092,57123,57146,57147).

Anticholinergic effects: Jimson weed has been historically used for asthma via inhalation. Its bronchodilatory effects when smoked can be explained by the anticholinergic effects of the alkaloids atropine, l-hyoscyamine and l-scopolamine (57079,57092,57123,57132,57146,57147). The toxic effects of jimson weed can also be explained by the anticholinergic effects of these constituents (57067,57075,57077,57078).

Antibacterial effects: Jimson weed has been historically used for bacterial respiratory infections. In vitro research shows that methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Jimson weed have a dose-dependent antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria (57090).

Sleep effects: Animal research suggests that jimson weed extract may improve sleep duration and sleep latency via elevations in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and/or activity at opioid receptors. Animal research in mice shows that administering jimson weed seed, calyx, or petal extract, 16% to 21%, 50-100 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection as a single dose improves sleep duration and sleep latency by 26% to 120% and 26% to 57%, respectively, when compared with control (109501).

Classifications


References

See Monograph References


Monographs are reviewed on a regular schedule. See our Editorial Principles and Process for details. The literature evaluated in this monograph is current through 12/7/2023. This monograph was last modified on 6/10/2024. If you have comments or suggestions, please tell the editors.