A03BA04

In herbal medicine the leaves of this plant that contains numerous alkaloids with anticholinergic and antimuscarinic properties are used: l-hyoscyamine and atropine, scopolamine or hyoscine and, all of them potentially high toxic. Traditionally used with poor clinical evidence based on trials as anti-asthmatic, for common colds and intestinal spasms.

At latest update no published data on excretion into breast milk were found.

Although antimuscarinics are thought to decrease prolactin production ^{(Müller 1983, Masala 1982)}, once lactation is established, milk production depends more on the repeated stimulation of suckling than on prolactin levels.

Potential side effects are serious (tachycardia, thirst, fever, mydriasis, seizures, coma), especially in infants and newborns ^{(Caksen 2003 Laffargue 2011, Glatstein 2014, Rodríguez-González 2014)}. There have been cases of gangrene when applied to the breast. ^{(Wani 2011)}

Belladonna is included in association with other “over the counter" medications of doubtful effectiveness or safety. Overall drug associations are not recommended. Withdrawal or restricted from the market in Spain. ^{(MSC 2004)}

Precautions when taking plant preparations:

1. Make sure it is obtained from a reliable source: reportedly, poisonings have occurred due to confusion after using another plant with toxic effects ^{(Hsu 1995)}, some others contain heavy metals that may cause poisoning and others may cause food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi.
2. Do not take it excessively. "Natural" products are not always good in any amount: plants contain active substances from which are made many compounds of our traditional pharmacopoeia that can cause poisoning if consumed in exaggerated quantities or for long periods.