Treatment depends on the number of berries ingested. Symptoms generally occur in 30 minutes to 3 hours and can include dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, apnea, and seizures. A 40 year old woman died from cardiac arrhythmia's five hours after ingesting 150 yew leaves. Always call the Poison Center for assistance for these ingestions. Leaves and berries are toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, circulatory and respiratory depression several hours after eaten.
Less toxicity is seen with the ripe red berries.
A shiny brown seed, one inch in diameter with scarred hull. Can cause GI upset, weakness, incoordination, and respiratory paralysis. Can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage if more than a few are eaten. This orange ornamental fall decoration can be found growing along roadsides or fences. The fruit can be poisonous to children if eaten in large amounts.