Emergency and poison control
Mad honey safety: when immediate help is needed
Mad honey can contain grayanotoxins, which may affect the heart, blood pressure, and nervous system. If someone experiences chest pain, becomes severely confused, or has a very slow or irregular heartbeat, call your local emergency number now.
In most places, emergency calls are free. If your country is not listed, use your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department.
We publish no dosing figures
You will not find a spoon count, weight, volume, or “start with this much” recommendation on this site. That is a deliberate editorial rule.
Mad honey can contain grayanotoxins, and toxin levels may vary between harvests, locations, and batches. Its colour, flavour, origin, or label cannot reliably establish how much toxin a jar contains.
Numbers by country
The numbers below are a quick starting point for readers in the countries covered by this guide. Emergency and poison services can change, so always follow local instructions and use the local emergency number if a person is seriously unwell.
| Country | Emergency services | Poison information | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 000 112 from a mobile |
Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26, 24 hours |
4 Aug 2026 |
| Canada | 911 | Poison centres are provincial. Ask the 911 operator to connect you, or use your province's centre. | 4 Aug 2026 |
| India | 112 |
National Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS 1800 116 117 |
4 Aug 2026 |
| Netherlands | 112 | The NVIC advises clinicians, not the public. Call 112, or your huisartsenpost out of hours. | 4 Aug 2026 |
| New Zealand | 111 |
National Poisons Centre 0800 764 766, 24 hours |
4 Aug 2026 |
| Philippines | 911 |
National Poison Management and Control Centre, UP–PGH (02) 8524 1078 |
4 Aug 2026 |
| Singapore | 995 | Drug and Poison Information Centre operates in office hours. Outside them, call 995. | 4 Aug 2026 |
| United Kingdom | 999 112 also works | There is no public poison line. In England, Scotland and Wales call 111 for non-emergency assessment; in Northern Ireland contact your GP out-of-hours service. | 4 Aug 2026 |
| United States | 911 |
Poison Help 1-800-222-1222, 24 hours, routes to your local centre |
4 Aug 2026 |
| Not listed here | 112 Works in much of the world | Search for your national poison centre on a government or health-service domain. We do not publish numbers we have not read on the authority's own page. | Not verified |
What to tell a clinician
Mad honey poisoning is uncommon, and the product may be described using different names. These details can help a clinician or poison specialist identify the likely exposure more quickly.
Name the toxin
Say that the person consumed “mad honey”, or honey that may contain grayanotoxins. If possible, show the jar, packaging, ingredient list, or a photograph of the label.
Describe the symptoms
Explain what happened after consumption. Mention dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, blurred vision, confusion, chest discomfort, breathing difficulty, or a slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat.
Give the timing
Say when the honey was consumed, when symptoms began, and whether they are improving, worsening, or changing. Do not guess at an amount if you do not know it.
List medicines and other substances
Mention all medicines, supplements, alcohol, or other substances taken that day. This may be especially relevant where medicines affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, or consciousness.
For clinicians
This page is written for the public and does not provide a treatment protocol. Clinicians should use local toxicology resources, poison-centre support, and current clinical guidance when assessing suspected grayanotoxin exposure.
Read next
Symptoms
What a reaction looks like from outside, and which signs mean call now.
9 min readEffects
The reported range, from mild and self-limiting to genuinely dangerous.
7 min readWho is at risk
The groups that appear repeatedly in the case reports, and the reasoning.
9 min readThe mechanism
What grayanotoxin is, how it reaches the honey, and what it does in a body.
13 min readThis page is information only and is not medical advice. It carries no advertising, no affiliate links and no seller names, and it is reviewed on the same quarterly cycle as the Safety section.