[Dietary supplements--surprise pills?].
BACKGROUND
Sales of herbal dietary supplements have increased dramatically. A patient case drew our attention to the problem of incomplete declaration of content.


METHODS
Two dietary supplements which the manufacturers claim to be natural, extremely fat-burning and energizing were analysed, as were urine and serum samples from persons taking these supplements.


RESULTS
Surprisingly, the herbal dietary supplements contained drugs. Diazepam, clonazepam, ephedrine and metabolites were found when analyzing serum samples after intake of the dietary supplement Thermo-X 650, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine after intake of the Purple Burn supplement.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of herbal dietary supplement can have serious consequences, for instance through interactions with drug therapy. Consumers must be given sufficient product information for safe use.
Hendset
Magnhild
M
Psykofarmakologisk avdeling, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus, Postboks 85 Vinderen, 0319 Oslo.
Lunder
Niclas
N
Refsum
Helge
H
Island
Thor Kristian
TK
D000328:Adult; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003975:Diazepam / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D010936:Plant Extracts; D002998:Clonazepam; D004809:Ephedrine; D003975:Diazepam