Laudanum is a powerful, liquid narcotic that was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is made from opium dissolved in alcohol, typically ethanol, and often flavored or mixed with other ingredients.
The opium in laudanum is extracted from the poppy flower (Papaver somniferum.) After Pre-Raphaelite artist Elizabeth Siddal died from a laudanum overdose, her husband Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted a dove placing the poppy flower in her hand in his final tribute to her, Beata Beatrix.
Laudanum was commonly prescribed for a wide range of ailments—pain, coughs, insomnia, menstrual cramps, even emotional distress. It was readily available over the counter, and its addictive nature wasn’t fully understood (or acknowledged) for much of its use.
Laudanum is highly addictive and potentially lethal in large doses. Elizabeth Siddal’s laudanum use may have begun during her bout of pneumonia after posing for Ophelia – she depended on it for most of her adult life.
She was definitely not alone, laudanum played a role in the lives of many historical figures.
The Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge famously struggled with opium addiction, largely in the form of laudanum. His visionary poem Kubla Khan was reportedly written under its influence.
Thomas De Quincey, author of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821), detailed his laudanum addiction with both fascination and horror. His work influenced later views on addiction and romanticized suffering.
Though he was better known for other excesses, Lord Byron used laudanum for various ailments and emotional distress and often mentioned it in his letters and poetry.
Laudanum became regulated in the early 20th century, as governments began responding to rising awareness of its addictive and dangerous effects. Here’s a brief timeline of its regulation:
By the mid-20th century, laudanum had largely fallen out of use in favor of more refined and controlled painkillers. It still exists today in very rare medical cases, under the name tincture of opium, but it’s tightly regulated and almost never prescribed.
Opiate addiction continues to impact lives across the world. While the substances have changed over time, the underlying struggles with addiction and mental health remain deeply relevant. Stories like Elizabeth Siddal’s dependence on laudanum serve as powerful reminders — cautionary tales that invite us to reflect on the ways drug use can affect both body and mind.
More about Elizabeth Siddal