Emergency

Overdose signs

• Deliriants are genuinely dangerous — treat any strong reaction as a medical emergency.
• True delirium — confused, disoriented, doesn't know what's real or recognize people/danger
• Vivid, frightening hallucinations; agitation or aggression
• Hot, flushed, dry skin and high body temperature
• Dilated pupils; blurred vision
• Fast heartbeat; inability to urinate
• Seizures; unconsciousness

First response

• Call emergency services — deliriant poisoning (especially datura / belladonna) can be life-threatening
• Keep them physically safe — they may not know what they're doing and can badly injure themselves; remove hazards and stay with them
• Do not leave them alone; do not try to reason them out of it — they are delirious
• If overheating, cool the body
• Recovery position if drowsy, vomiting, or unconscious; be ready for rescue breaths / CPR

For the medical team

Tell the dispatcher a deliriant / anticholinergic is suspected (e.g. datura, belladonna, or a high dose of diphenhydramine), and what/how much if known. These cause dangerous delirium and overheating; datura/belladonna potency is wildly unpredictable and can be fatal. Hospitals may use physostigmine for severe anticholinergic poisoning — it is not something to give outside medical care.

Resolution

Deliriant effects are long (many hours to more than a day) and the person is not safe or in control throughout. The main dangers are self-injury during delirium, overheating, and — for potent anticholinergics like datura — cardiac and central-nervous-system toxicity. Medical monitoring is often needed.

Every recorded risk