Methylephedrine-induced heart failure in a habitual user of paediatric cough syrup: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

For relief of cold symptoms, methylephedrine is considered to be safer than ephedrine, particularly when used at the predetermined dose. It is often present in various over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for cold, including paediatric cough syrups.

Case summary

A 52-year-old man presented with worsening dyspnoea and anorexia for 2 weeks. He was a night shift worker and had been habitually taking large doses of methylephedrine-containing paediatric cough syrup for 20 years for sleep averting. On admission, his chest X-ray revealed pulmonary congestion and electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with left-axis deviation. Echocardiography revealed diffuse hypokinesis with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) of 25%. The B-type natriuretic peptide level was elevated to 1092 n

SUBMITTER: Suzuki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7319816 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature