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Possible Case of Mania Associated with Ma‐Huang
Author(s) -
Boerth Joel M.,
Caley Charles F.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.23.3.380.32114
Subject(s) - mania , psychiatry , psychosis , adverse effect , bipolar disorder , medicine , acute psychosis , psychology , mood
Several commercially available weight‐loss supplements contain ma‐huang, an herb derived from Ephedra sinica. Previous reports have raised awareness that ma‐huang supplements may precipitate symptoms consistent with mania in susceptible individuals. A 21‐year‐old woman required psychiatric hospitalization as a result of acute manic symptoms with psychosis. The emergence of her symptoms coincided with her use of two supplements containing ma‐huang. Consumers need to be educated about the potential adverse psychiatric effects of ma‐huang in order to make well‐informed decisions before using such supplements. A preexisting psychiatric disorder may also increase susceptibility to these adverse effects.