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What to do if…
you develop severe vomiting and diarrhea after eating foraged mushrooms or an unknown plant

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat this as possible poisoning, not routine food poisoning. Get urgent medical advice now: call 111 where available, or call 999 or go to A&E if you are seriously unwell, getting worse, or cannot get urgent advice quickly.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait it out if symptoms are severe, you cannot keep fluids down, you feel faint, confused, very drowsy, or you are getting worse.
  • Do not try to make yourself vomit.
  • Do not take anti-diarrhoea medicine, such as loperamide, unless 111, A&E, 999, or a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not take leftover antibiotics, strong painkillers, alcohol, or “detox” remedies to try to counteract it.
  • Do not force food or drink while you are waiting for poisoning advice.
  • Do not throw away the mushroom, plant, remaining food, vomit, containers, or photos if you can safely keep them for clinicians.

What to do now

  1. Choose the urgent-help route now.
    • Call 999 or go to A&E now if you or they are very drowsy, collapsing or fainting, having a seizure, struggling to breathe, confused, severely dehydrated, have sudden or severe tummy pain, are vomiting blood, have vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom.
    • If you are in England, Scotland, or Wales and it is not immediately life-threatening, call 111 now and say: “Possible poisoning after foraged mushrooms or an unknown plant, with severe vomiting and diarrhoea.”
    • If you are in Northern Ireland and it is not immediately life-threatening, contact your GP or GP out-of-hours service if you can do that quickly. If you cannot get advice quickly, call 999 or go to A&E.
  2. If you are alone, make the situation safer while you get help.
    • Sit or lie on your side near a toilet or bucket.
    • Keep your phone on loudspeaker.
    • Unlock the door if it is safe to do so, so help can reach you.
  3. Gather the details clinicians will ask for.
    • Note the time eaten, how much was eaten, when symptoms began, who else ate it, and any alcohol, medicines, or other substances taken.
    • Keep any foraging basket, bag, container, leftovers, or cooking water if you can do so safely.
  4. Preserve identification clues safely.
    • Take clear photos of the mushroom or plant, including the top, underside or gills, stem, leaves, berries, nearby habitat, and any remaining prepared food.
    • If you still have a piece, put it in a sealed bag or container, handle it as little as possible, and wash your hands afterwards.
    • Do not taste it again.
    • If vomiting happens naturally, you can keep a small sample of vomit in a sealed bag or container for clinicians, without trying to make yourself vomit.
  5. Ask urgent medical advice what to do about fluids.
    • Tell 111, 999, A&E, your GP, or GP out-of-hours if you cannot keep even small sips down.
    • Do not force fluids if you are very drowsy, confused, choking, struggling to swallow, or being told to avoid food or drink.
  6. Still get assessed even if symptoms ease.
    • Some mushroom and plant toxins can cause serious harm even if early stomach symptoms settle. Follow the urgent advice you are given the same day.

What can wait

  • Trying to identify the mushroom or plant yourself online.
  • Deciding whether it was “just food poisoning.”
  • Cleaning up, travelling home, or finishing plans.
  • Posting in foraging groups for an ID.
  • Working out whether you should forage again in future.

Important reassurance

It is understandable to panic when severe vomiting and diarrhoea start after unknown foraged food. Getting urgent advice quickly is the safest move, and you do not need to prove what you ate before asking for help.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce harm and get you into the right care pathway. Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment decisions need clinicians, especially when the mushroom or plant is unknown.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If you think you may have been poisoned, or you are getting worse, use 111 where available, GP out-of-hours in Northern Ireland where appropriate, 999, or A&E promptly.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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