Drug & supplement interaction

Jimson Weed + Benztropine

Benztropine brand names: Cogentin, Cogentin Injection.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Jimson Weed has a moderate interaction with Benztropine. Theoretically, jimson weed may increase anticholinergic effects and adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Jimson Weed and Benztropine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Benztropine

Benztropine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Jimson Weed interacts with.

Theoretically, jimson weed may increase anticholinergic effects and adverse effects.
Jimson weed contains alkaloids with anticholinergic effects, such as atropine and scopolamine. Use with other anticholinergic drugs may cause additive effects.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: Benztropine is itself an anticholinergic medicine. It works by blocking acetylcholine to calm tremors and stiffness. Jimson Weed is packed with the same kind of compounds (atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine), so combining the two would stack one anticholinergic on top of another. That means a stronger, additive effect, not a weaker one.

In real life, that could look like a very dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, trouble urinating, a fast heartbeat, confusion, overheating, or even hallucinations. This warning is based on how these chemicals behave (theoretical), but the bigger issue is that Jimson Weed is genuinely poisonous and should never be used at all. Please talk with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Burnham TH, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons, Updated Monthly. Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis, MO.
  3. Sasaki, T., Yamazaki, K., Yamori, T., and Endo, T. Inhibition of proliferation and induction of differentiation of glioma cells with Datura stramonium agglutinin. Br.J Cancer 10-7-2002;87(8):918-923. PubMed
  4. Al Shaikh, A. M. and Sablay, Z. M. Hallucinogenic plant poisoning in children. Saudi.Med.J 2005;26(1):118-121. DOI
  5. Pavlov, A., Berkov, S., Weber, J., and Bley, T. Hyoscyamine Biosynthesis in Datura stramonium Hairy Root In Vitro Systems with Different Ploidy Levels. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 5-29-2008; PubMed
  6. Nogue, S., Pujol, L., Sanz, P., and de la, Torre R. Datura stramonium poisoning. Identification of tropane alkaloids in urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Int Med.Res. 1995;23(2):132-137.
  7. Roblot, F., Montaz, L., Delcoustal, M., Gaboriau, E., Chavagnat, J. J., Morichaud, G., Pourrat, O., Scepi, M., and Patte, D. [Datura stramonium poisoning: the diagnosis is clinical, treatment is symptomatic]. Rev.Med.Interne 1995;16(3):187-190.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Jimson Weed Also Interacts With Other Medications

Jimson Weed has 194 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Benztropine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Jimson Weed

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Jimson Weed. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Benztropine

This page covers Jimson Weed only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Benztropine page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate) and Bacopa (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 32 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Benztropine page

“People usually take benztropine (Cogentin) for Parkinson's tremor or for the stiffness and restlessness antipsychotic drugs can cause, and this is a supplement list to approach with genuine care. Three of its 46 interactions rate major: activated charcoal, which can soak the drug up in the gut before it works, and two alkaloid herbs, h…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Benztropine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Jimson Weed as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1 real supplement products containing Jimson Weed, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Jimson Weed. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Benztropine too, on top of Jimson Weed — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Jimson Weed and Benztropine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Jimson Weed
Steady interest

#1,050 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Benztropine
Top half

#1,127 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Jimson Weed

What is Jimson Weed?

  • Asthma and breathing problems (historical/folk use)
  • Pain relief
  • Recreational hallucinogen (highly dangerous misuse)
  • Muscle spasms
  • Skin conditions (traditional topical use)

Jimson Weed is a highly poisonous plant that contains powerful nerve-affecting compounds, and even small amounts can cause severe poisoning, hallucinations, or death. It is not a safe supplement, and there is no reliable evidence supporting its use for any health condition. Do not use Jimson Weed in any form.

Read the full Jimson Weed monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Benztropine

What Is Benztropine Used For?

Brand names: Cogentin, Cogentin Injection

Benztropine mesylate is used as part of the treatment for all forms of parkinsonism — a group of conditions that cause tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. It is not a cure, but it helps ease symptoms when used alongside other therapies.

It is also used to control extrapyramidal disorders (abnormal, involuntary muscle movements and stiffness) that can be caused by antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines. It is not used for tardive dyskinesia (uncontrolled muscle movements that develop after long-term use of certain psychiatric drugs).

See full Benztropine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Jimson Weed

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Jimson Weed — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
194Moderate
0Minor
2,635No known interaction
Moderate

194 interactions

Showing 60 of 194 moderate interactions — see all 194 on the Jimson Weed page.

No interaction 2,635 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Jimson Weed and Benztropine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Jimson Weed with Benztropine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Jimson Weed and Benztropine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Benztropine and Jimson Weed?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.