Summary:

Angel's trumpet is a common name for two closely related genera in the family Solanaceae: Brugmansia, comprising woody plants with pendulous flowers and Datura, comprising herbaceous plants with erect flowers. Parts of the plants contain poisonous belladonna alkaloids (nitrogen-containing compounds). In the 1990s and 2000s, the U.S. media contained stories of adolescents and young adults dying or becoming seriously ill from intentionally ingesting angel's trumpet. Angel's trumpet is considered poisonous and it is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Poisonous Plants List.

Uses:

No available studies qualify for inclusion in the grading table.

Safety:

Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to angel's trumpet, its constituents (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine), or Datura or Brugmansia species. Use cautiously with congestive heart failure, Down's syndrome, constipation, fever, gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal infections, tachyarrhythmias (fast heart rhythms), esophageal reflux and hiatal hernia, narrow-angle glaucoma, obstructive gastrointestinal tract disease, ulcerative colitis, and urinary retention. Avoid with toxic megacolon (huge, swollen colon). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Possible side effects:

Accidental drowning, acute anticholinergic syndrome, aggressive and autoaggressive behavior, alternating levels of consciousness, amnesia (loss of memory), anisocoria (inequality in the size of the pupils), anticholinergic effects, anxiety, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), ataxia (loss of coordination), audio-visual disassociation, auditory hallucinations (e.g. verbal hallucinations), clonus (involuntary rapid tensing and relaxing of muscles), coma, convulsions, convulsive sobbing, decreased gastrointestinal motility, delirium, disorientation, disturbances of orientation, dry skin, fever, flight of ideas, flushing, hallucinogenic effects, hyperactivity, hypertonia (muscle tension), hypotension (low blood pressure), illusions, incoherent thoughts, intense thirst, ipsilateral cycloplegia (eye disorder), motor restlessness, muscular paralysis, muscular weakness, mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), overtalkativeness, psychosis, respiratory distress, seizures, self-amputation of the penis and tongue, sexual excitement, submissive behavior, systolic hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), tangential thinking, urinary retention, visual hallucinations, vomiting, weakness, widened pulse pressure.

Possible interactions:

Alcohol (ethanol), amantadine (antiviral drug), analgesics (pain relievers), anticholinergics (medications that calm muscle spasms), anticoagulants (blood thinners), antidepressant agents, tricyclic (TCAs), antihypertensives (blood pressure-lowering), antipsychotic agents, beta blockers, opiates, phenothiazines, salicylic acid (aspirin), scopolamine, and herbs and supplements with similar effects.

Dosing:

Adults (18 years and older):

Based on cases of toxicity and potentially dangerous constituents, angel's trumpet is not recommended. Traditionally, angel's trumpet has been used as an enema, tea, or smoked to induce visions.

Children (younger than 18 years):

Based on cases of toxicity and potentially dangerous constituents, angel's trumpet is not recommended for children.