Colds belladonna

Alkaloids range from the belladonna alkaloids, such as atropine and scopalomine—which are used as poisons, cold remedies, and truth serums —to dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant (anti-tussive). But the most widely known alkaloids are the opiates, such as morphine, heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and methadone. These act on... 

Atropin was obtained from belladonna roots and by racemisation of L-hyoscyamine with dilute alkali or by heating in chloroform solution. The alkaloid was crystallised from alcohol on addition of water, or from chloroform on addition of light petroleum, or from acetone in long prisms, m.p. 118°C, sublimed unchanged when heated rapidly. It is soluble in alcohol or chloroform, less soluble in ether or hot water, sparingly so in cold water (in 450 L at 25°C) and almost insoluble in light petroleum. Atropine is optically inactive. 

She had also started to take a combined formulation containing ergotamine (0.6 mg/day), phenobarbital (40 mg/day), and belladonna extract (0.4 mg/day). Four days later she noted pain in both legs and all her extremities were cold, pale, and pulseless. She had diffuse arterial spasm in the aorta and all four limbs. Despite intensive vasodilator therapy, she developed bilateral gangrene of the toes, requiring transmetatarsal amputations. 

Its ability to dry secretions has also been used in the so-called rhinitis tablets for symptomatic relief in colds. In cathartic preparations, atropine or belladonna has been used at an untispasmodic to lessen the smooth muscle spasm (griping) often as.s(K iated with catharsis. 

During the Cold War (1945-91), a great deal of research was directed to chemicals that were not necessarily lethal, but would merely temporarily incapacitate enemy personnel. In particular, the United States and the former Soviet Union investigated a wide number of pharmacological agents such as depressants, hallucinogens, belladonna drugs, and opiate derivatives for their potentials as incapacitants. 

The most common source of belladonna in the U.S. is in legitimate medicines (asthma preparations, particularly Asthmador, contain belladonna) so this accounts for some of the problems. Also, you will notice traces of belladonna alkaloids in such drugs as Contac capsules and other cold remedies, though in these the adverse effects are minimal, and virtually unnoticeable. Overdose potential on purer forms, including wild jimson weed and Asthmador, is very great. 

Tropinic acid, CgHi 30i,N, is a degradation product of atropine, an alkaloid of the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna. It has a neutralization equivalent of 94 1. It does not react with benzenesulfonyl chloride, cold dilute KMnOj, or Br2/CCl. Exhaustive raethylation gives the following results ... 

Antidotes.—An emetic of sulphate of copper, when practicable purgatives to empty the alimentary canal after vomition or purgation, administer opium in sufficient doses to counteract the effects of the belladonna. Move the animal about affusions of cold water over the head and chest artificial respiration galvanism ether brandy inhalations of ammonia. 

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