title: Potential toxicity of caffeine when used as a dietary supplement for weight loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caffeine is added to dietary supplements to increase energy and suppress appetite. Many people take dietary supplements for weight loss. Patients may be unaware that supplements can contain caffeine, even if caffeine is not listed as an ingredient. Commonly used herbal dietary supplement ingredients, such as guarana, are natural sources of caffeine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of possible caffeine-induced seizure in a patient taking an over-the-counter weight loss supplement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A previously healthy 38-year-old female experienced blurring of vision and a new onset grand mal seizure. The patient had a two-month history of taking the dietary supplement, Zantrex - 3™. Zantrex - 3™ is advertised as a weight loss supplement which may provide rapid weight loss and extreme energy in one "power packed pill."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After discontinuation of Zantrex - 3™, the patient experienced no further seizure activity. Outpatient follow up at 2 and 6 weeks was noncontributory with follow up MRI and EEG both within normal limits.
authors: Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, United States.
authors: Morgan
authors: M
authors: Pendleton
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Brown
authors: Christan M
authors: CM
authors: Thomas
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Odle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000633:toxicity*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000633:toxicity*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002110:Caffeine