Death Cap
The death cap (Amanita phalloides) is among the most dangerous poisonous mushrooms: its amatoxins cause delayed liver failure, cooking does not remove them, and early help is what matters.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Documented analytical data
Each group below is one study's measurement of the stated specimen or preparation. It is not a typical value for the species or product, varies between specimens, and says nothing about effects or safety. 14 values from 14 sources.
Amanitins in Wild Mushrooms: The Development of HPLC-UV-EC and HPLC-DAD-MS Methods for Food Safety Purposes. Foods 20... (1 value)
Source: Amanitins in Wild Mushrooms: The Development of HPLC-UV-EC and HPLC-DAD-MS Methods for Food Safety Purposes. Foods 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9741345/ (Table 5; reported as 290 and 280 micrograms per g, equal to mg per kg). Laboratory: not stated in source. Method: HPLC-UV-electrochemical detection. Date: collected Sept and Nov, published 2022.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, wild, Portugal Inner Central Region | Alpha-amanitin | 290 mg per kg (probably dry weight (dried at 40 C; not stated outright), fruiting body) | reported value (reported) | not stated. single reported mean |
Amanitins in Wild Mushrooms: The Development of HPLC-UV-EC and HPLC-DAD-MS Methods for Food Safety Purposes. Foods 20... (1 value)
Source: Amanitins in Wild Mushrooms: The Development of HPLC-UV-EC and HPLC-DAD-MS Methods for Food Safety Purposes. Foods 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9741345/ (Table 5; reported as 290 and 280 micrograms per g, equal to mg per kg). Laboratory: not stated in source. Method: HPLC-UV-electrochemical detection. Date: published 2022.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, wild, Portugal | Beta-amanitin | 280 mg per kg (probably dry weight) | reported value (reported) | not stated. single reported mean |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, France (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 113 mg per kg (fresh) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, France (quoted) | Beta-amanitin | 123 mg per kg (fresh) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Italy (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 1330 mg per kg (basis not stated) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Portugal (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 784 mg per kg (basis not stated; upper end of range 666-784) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Portugal (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 666 mg per kg (basis not stated; lower end of range 666-784) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Turkey (quoted) | Beta-amanitin | 33 mg per kg (basis not stated; upper end of range 4-33) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Turkey (quoted) | Beta-amanitin | 4 mg per kg (basis not stated; lower end of range 4-33) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Turkey (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 39 mg per kg (basis not stated; upper end of range 10-39) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, Turkey (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 10 mg per kg (basis not stated; lower end of range 10-39) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, United Kingdom (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 60 mg per kg (fresh) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, United Kingdom (quoted) | Beta-amanitin | 63 mg per kg (fresh) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidi... (1 value)
Source: Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method of Three Polypeptide Toxins alpha-Amanitin, beta-Amanitin and Phalloidin in Poisonous Mushrooms and Human Serum Using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12093918/ (Table 4, literature values quoted from other papers; originals... Laboratory: not stated. Method: as in the original paper (not opened). Date: see original.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanita phalloides, United States (quoted) | Alpha-amanitin | 880 mg per kg (basis not stated) | reported value (reported) | not stated. literature value quoted in a 2025 table |
What is Death cap good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (3)
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
The main organ harmed is the liver, with a delayed course over days.
- Liver & DetoxDocumented risk
Liver injury and failure are the main outcome; cooking does not detoxify the mushroom.
- Digestive SystemDocumented risk
The first symptoms are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Body parts (2)
Root causes (1)
- Environmental ToxinsDocumented risk
A natural fungal toxin; included because it is a poison people meet outdoors, not a supplement effect.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- Liver FailureDocumented risk
Death occurs through multi-organ and liver failure within 1 to 3 weeks in severe cases.
- Liver Failure, AcuteDocumented risk
Amatoxin poisoning can end in acute liver failure; about half of people in liver failure in a US registry of 18 needed a transplant.
Documented risks and interactions (9)
- Amatoxin liver poisoning. The death cap contains amatoxins (mostly alpha- and beta-amanitin). They block an enzyme cells need to make proteins and kill liver cells, leading to acute liver failure.
- Delayed symptoms with a false recovery. Stomach symptoms start about 6 to 24 hours after eating, can ease at 36 to 48 hours while liver tests worsen, and liver failure follows within 1 to 3 weeks.
- Cooking, drying and freezing do not remove the toxin. About 5% of alpha-amanitin was still present after 6 hours of boiling; amatoxins were found in 20-year-old herbarium specimens and in mushrooms frozen 7 to 8 months before a fatal case.
- Treatment and its limited evidence. Care is supportive (fluids, salts), with activated charcoal, silibinin, N-acetylcysteine and penicillin used, and liver transplant for poor outlook. Evidence is from small retrospective studies; a 2016 US registry of 18 people found about half in liver failure needed a transplant.
- Poisoning outbreaks and case series. Fourteen people (ages 18 months to 93) were poisoned in northern California in December 2016: 3 liver transplants, no deaths, one child with lasting brain damage. A 1999 Canberra series of 7 had 1 death.
- Confusion with edible mushrooms in poisoning reports. Three Laotian patients in the 1999 Canberra series mistook it for the edible paddy straw mushroom; a 2024 review also names Amanita calyptoroderma. Whether victims really chose it for that reason is sometimes only assumed.
- Toxin content varies widely. Measured alpha-amanitin in the species ranged from 10 to 39 mg per kg in one quoted Turkish study up to 880 to 1,330 mg per kg in quoted US and Italian samples; one Portuguese HPLC measurement gave 290 micrograms per g.
- Potency estimates. Oral LD50 of alpha- and beta-amanitin in rats is 0.2 to 0.6 mg per kg; an estimated human LD50 for alpha-amanitin is about 0.1 mg per kg (second-hand figures).
- Where it occurs. Native to Europe, reported in Australia, the Americas, Asia and Africa, spread with oak, chestnut and pine; poisonings cluster in spring, late summer and autumn.
Safety first. The death cap causes serious liver damage and can kill. If anyone may have eaten it, or any wild or unknown mushroom, call Poison Help now at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or your local poison centre or emergency number, and do not wait for symptoms. [1][2] The first stomach symptoms usually start 6 to 24 hours after eating. They can then ease for a day or two while the liver is still being damaged, so feeling better is not a sign of safety. [3] Call 911 (US) for collapse, a seizure, trouble breathing or if the person cannot be woken. [2] This page gives no identification help, on purpose. See mushroom poisoning: warning signs and urgent help and the mushroom safety quick reference.
The short version. The death cap is Amanita phalloides, a fungus native to Europe that has spread to many other countries. [3] Its main toxins are amatoxins, which switch off an essential cell enzyme and kill liver cells. [3] It is not a food, not a supplement and not psychoactive. Nothing in the kitchen makes it safe. [3] Treatment is hospital care, and sometimes a liver transplant. [3][4]
Do not identify wild mushrooms from text, photos or apps
Even very experienced gatherers can find it hard to tell whether a mushroom is safe, and a photo or an app cannot replace expert help. [1] The site's safety reference describes a study in which popular identification apps were not reliable enough to exclude poisonous mushrooms. Public-health writers advise having wild-picked mushrooms examined by a trained mycologist before anyone eats them, and strongly discourage inexperienced people from eating any wild mushroom. [5] On this site, see cooking edible mushrooms safely.The toxin and how it acts
- What it is. Amatoxins are small, stable ring-shaped proteins. Alpha-amanitin makes up about 66 to 75% of the toxins in the fruiting body and beta-amanitin about 24 to 32%. [3]
- How it harms. Amatoxins block an enzyme (RNA polymerase II) that cells need to make proteins, which drives liver cells to die. [3] The gut lining and kidneys can also be affected. [3]
- Other compounds. Phallotoxins (such as phalloidin) are also present, but they are only weakly toxic when swallowed. [3] Wikidata lists 40 compounds reported in the species (see the lab section below). [10]
- How poisonous. Figures come from animals and from estimates: the oral LD50 of alpha- and beta-amanitin in rats is 0.2 to 0.6 mg per kg, and one 2025 paper gives an estimated human LD50 of about 0.1 mg per kg for alpha-amanitin. [9] These numbers show how potent it is. They are not a safe-amount guide, and no amount is safe.
Cooking, drying and freezing do not make it safe
A 2024 review states that amatoxins are not destroyed by cooking or drying. After 6 hours of boiling, about 5% of alpha-amanitin was still there. Amatoxins were found in herbarium specimens at least 20 years old, and a fatal case involved mushrooms frozen for 7 to 8 months. [3] The University of Kansas poison centre says the same for all poisonous mushrooms: cooking, canning, pickling, freezing and drying do not remove the toxins. [1]Symptom timeline
| Phase | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet period | about 6 to 18 hours after eating | No symptoms. [3] |
| Stomach phase | 6 to 24 hours | Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhoea; dehydration, low blood pressure and salt imbalance can follow. It looks like a stomach bug. [3] |
| Apparent recovery | about 36 to 48 hours | Stomach symptoms settle, but liver tests, blood clotting and jaundice get worse. [3] |
| Liver failure | within 1 to 3 weeks | Multi-organ failure, bleeding and confusion, and death can occur; people who do well improve quickly. [3] |
In the December 2016 California outbreak (14 people, ages 18 months to 93 years), symptoms began 4 to 12 hours after eating where the time was known, most at 9 to 10 hours. All 14 stayed in hospital for 3 to 36 days, 3 had liver transplants, and none died. A small child was left with lasting brain damage. [5] The report warns that stomach symptoms that look like a viral stomach bug can slowly progress to fatal liver injury. [5]
Treatment (what the clinical sources describe)
There is no simple antidote. Doctors give fluids and correct salts, and may give activated charcoal, a drug called silibinin (a milk-thistle extract given into a vein), N-acetylcysteine, and high-dose penicillin. [3] The 2024 review notes that evidence on management is mostly from small retrospective studies, with no prospective data, and that silibinin looked better than penicillin alone in about 1,300 reported cases. [3] A 2016 US registry study of 18 people with amatoxin liver injury or failure found that about half of those in liver failure needed a transplant, and no drug was clearly linked to survival; the numbers were small. [6] Liver transplant is the only treatment with a recognised survival benefit for people with poor outlook. [3] Reported death rates vary: the 2024 review gives 10 to 20%. [3] Doctors work with the poison centre on all of this. Do not try home remedies, and do not make the person vomit. Follow the poison centre. The NHS (UK) advises against both making someone sick and giving food or drink. [11] UC Davis Health likewise says there is no simple antidote and that treatment is mostly supportive. [4]Edible mushrooms it has been confused with
Published poisoning reports name the paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) as an edible mushroom people have mistaken it for: three Laotian patients in a 1999 Canberra series, where one patient of seven died. [7] See paddy straw mushroom. A mycological society page cautions that this explanation is often assumed because victims were not always asked. [12] The 2024 review also names Amanita calyptoroderma as an edible species it is mixed up with. [3] Another edible relative in the same genus is Caesar's mushroom; we did not find a poisoning report on that mix-up, so we make no claim. This is naming, not teaching: the safe rule is never to pick wild mushrooms by description.Where it occurs
Native to Europe, it has been reported in Australia, the United States, Central and South America, Asia and Africa, and it spread with the oak, chestnut and pine trees it lives with. [3] It fruits in spring, late summer and autumn, when poisonings often happen. [3] The Canberra authors in 1999 saw it spreading in gardens and streets. [7] Counts are small: the 2024 review gives no national or world totals. [3]Lab data and chemistry
Wikidata, the open knowledge base behind the LOTUS natural-products project, lists 40 compounds reported in Amanita phalloides (Q188643). None of the statements in our file has a paper attached. [10] A listing means "reported in at least one study of this species". The compound pages themselves were not opened.A. What the laboratory literature reports in this mushroom
| Compound or group | Class | Where in the mushroom / form | Identity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-amanitin | Amatoxin (ring protein), the main toxin | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q110185013 and Q136709147 | [3][10] |
| Beta-amanitin | Amatoxin | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q104387387 and Q136709148 | [3][10] |
| Gamma- and epsilon-amanitin, amanin, amaninamide, amanullin, amanullinic acid | Other amatoxins | Fruiting body | Q104391861, Q136709155, Q136709153, Q136709151, Q105133064, Q136709159 | [10] |
| Phalloidin, phallacidin, phallisin and related | Phallotoxins (weakly toxic when swallowed) | Fruiting body | Phalloidin Wikidata Q2266164, ChEBI 8040; phallacidin Q11989435, ChEBI 52732 | [3][10] |
| Cycloamanides A to F | Small ring peptides | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q136709100 to Q136709105 | [10] |
| Muscarine (and allomuscarine, 3-epimuscarine) | Choline-like compounds | Not stated | Muscarine Wikidata Q407952, ChEBI 7034 | [10] |
| Arsenic-containing compounds (arsenic acid, arsenous acid, cacodylic acid, methylarsonic acid, arsenobetaine-type) | Arsenic compounds | Not stated | ChEBI 18231, 49900, 48765, 29852 | [10] |
B. Measured values. USDA FoodData Central has no entry for this species. Toxin content varies enormously. The first rows are one primary measurement; the rest are values quoted in a table of another paper (second-hand: we did not open the original papers).
| Measure | Value | Basis | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-amanitin | 290 micrograms per g (= 290 mg per kg) | probably dry weight (samples dried at 40 C; the paper does not say so outright) | Wild, Portugal, HPLC-UV-electrochemical; n not stated | [8] |
| Beta-amanitin | 280 micrograms per g | as above | as above | [8] |
| Alpha-amanitin | 10 to 39 mg per kg | not stated | Turkey (quoted) | [9] |
| Alpha-amanitin | 666 to 784 mg per kg | not stated | Portugal (quoted) | [9] |
| Alpha-amanitin | 880 mg per kg; 1330 mg per kg | not stated | United States; Italy (quoted) | [9] |
| Alpha- and beta-amanitin | 60 and 63 mg per kg; 113 and 123 mg per kg | fresh | United Kingdom; France (quoted) | [9] |
| Beta-amanitin | 4 to 33 mg per kg | not stated | Turkey (quoted) | [9] |
C. What the numbers do and do not mean
- The same species measured from 10 to over 1,000 mg per kg, so no mushroom of this species can be called "mild" or "strong". Place, season, part of the fruiting body, drying and the method used all change the result. [8][9]
- Different papers do not agree, even for Portugal (290 here, 666 to 784 in another quoted study). We show both and pick neither. [8][9]
- A lab value measures toxin in a sample. It cannot tell anyone how much of it is in a particular mushroom, or how safe a bite is.
- Rat and estimated human lethal-dose figures show potency. They are not a threshold below which eating is safe. [9]
- These are food-safety and clinical-toxicology numbers. The death cap has no supplement or health use.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if someone ate a death cap or any wild mushroom?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or the local poison centre or emergency number, right away. Do not wait for symptoms. Call 911 for collapse, seizure or breathing trouble. [1][2]
How long until symptoms start?
Usually 6 to 24 hours; a quiet period comes first, and a short "better" period can follow while the liver is failing. [3]
Does cooking or drying remove the poison?
No. The amatoxins survive cooking, drying and freezing. [3]
Is there an antidote?
No simple one. Care is hospital-based: fluids, charcoal, silibinin, N-acetylcysteine, penicillin, and a liver transplant when needed. The evidence for each drug is limited. [3][6]
Can I tell it from edible mushrooms with an app or a description?
No. Do not identify wild mushrooms from text, photos or apps. [1]
Is it psychoactive?
No. It is a liver poison. [3]
References
- The University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center. Poisonous Mushrooms. Cited as read on the site's mushroom-poisoning page; not re-opened for this page.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Need immediate assistance?. Cited as read on the site's mushroom-poisoning page; not re-opened for this page.
- Amanita phalloides-associated liver failure: molecular mechanisms and management. PMC11640968. Read 2026-10-24 (open access; first 100,000 characters of about 113,700).
- UC Davis Health. What you need to know about wild mushroom poisoning. Cited as read on the site's mushroom-poisoning page; not re-opened for this page.
- Vo KT, et al. Amanita phalloides mushroom poisonings, Northern California, December 2016. MMWR 2017;66(21):549-553. CDC. Read 2026-10-24.
- Acute liver injury and acute liver failure from mushroom poisoning in North America. Liver Int. 2016;36(7):1043-1050. PubMed 26837055. Abstract read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC).
- Poisoning by Amanita phalloides ("deathcap") mushrooms in the Australian Capital Territory. Med J Aust. 1999;171(5). MJA. Abstract read 2026-10-24.
- Amanitins in wild mushrooms: the development of HPLC-UV-EC and HPLC-DAD-MS methods for food safety purposes. Foods. 2022. PMC9741345. Read 2026-10-24 (open access).
- Development of simultaneous analytical method of three polypeptide toxins alpha-amanitin, beta-amanitin and phalloidin in poisonous mushrooms and human serum using UHPLC-MS/MS. 2025. PMC12093918. Read 2026-10-24 (open access; Table 4 is a literature table, original papers not opened).
- Wikidata (CC0), compound-in-taxon statements (P703) for Amanita phalloides, Q188643, via the LOTUS project; read from
docs/research/mushroom-lab-sources/lotus-death-cap.json, retrieved 2026-10-23. Compound pages were not opened. - NHS (UK). Poisoning. Cited as read on the site's mushroom-poisoning page; not re-opened for this page.
- Bay Area Mycological Society. Mistaken identity. Only the search-result summary was read; the page itself was not opened.