Cardiac arrhythmias after phenylpropanolamine ingestion

Abstract

Physicians and pharmacists should be alerted to the potential adverse effects of phenylpropanolamine-containing products, which may include exaggerated hypertensive effects, arrhythmias (premature ventricular and atrial contractions together with paroxysmal ventricular or atrial tachycardia), psychotic reactions, and neurologic effects (grand mal seizures and intracerebral hemorrhage). A case of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in a woman, after the ingestion of diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine and caffeine is reported.