title: Ventricular tachycardia induced by weight loss pills.
abstract: A previously healthy 29-year-old man was admitted with palpitations, dizziness, and near-syncope after he had recently started taking weight loss pills purchased on the internet. The pills contained caffeine and ephedrine. An electrocardiogram and telemetry revealed multiple episodes of non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, which was successfully treated with amiodarone. In conclusion, unauthorized weight loss pills can be harmful. In particular, ephedrine-containing drugs carry a risk of ventricular tachycardia and should be discouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Manan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pareek
authors.forename: Nils Henrik
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Erik Lerkevang
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Grove