| During December 1993-September 1995, the Bureau of Food and Drug
Safety, Texas Department of Health (TDH), received approximately 500
reports of adverse events in persons who consumed dietary supplement
products containing ephedrine and associated alkaloids
(pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, and N-methyl ephedrine). This total
included reports by individuals and reports identified by the Bureau
of Epidemiology, TDH, in a review of records from the six centers of
the Texas Poison Center Network. Reported adverse events ranged in
severity from tremor and headache to death in eight ephedrine users
and included reports of stroke, myocardial infarction, chest pain,
seizures, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and dizziness.
Seven of the eight reported fatalities were attributed to myocardial
infarction or cerebrovascular accident. This report describes three
patients in which the recommended dosage for the dietary supplements
reportedly was not exceeded, summarizes results from ongoing
investigations, and underscores the potential health risks associated
with the use of products containing ephedrine.
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