TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychiatric effects of ephedra use
T2 - An analysis of food and drug administration reports of adverse events
AU - Maglione, Margaret
AU - Miotto, Karen
AU - Iguchi, Martin
AU - Jungvig, Lara
AU - Morton, Sally C.
AU - Shekelle, Paul G.
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - Objective: As part of a synthesis of evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of ephedra, the authors describe data on psychiatric adverse events from reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Method: The authors reviewed all 1,820 adverse event reports related to dietary supplements containing herbal ephedra from FDA MedWatch files as of Sept. 30, 2001. Fifty-seven serious psychiatric events were reported. Results: The most commonly reported events were psychosis, severe depression, mania or agitation, hallucinations, sleep disturbance, and suicidal ideation. Ten events involved physical harm to self or others; five events resulted in legal action due to criminal behavior. Twenty-six events resulted in hospitalization, at least six of which were involuntary. Of importance, two-thirds of all cases involved patients with preexisting psychiatric conditions and /or use of other medications or illicit substances. Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that serious psychiatric symptoms could be associated with ephedra use.
AB - Objective: As part of a synthesis of evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of ephedra, the authors describe data on psychiatric adverse events from reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Method: The authors reviewed all 1,820 adverse event reports related to dietary supplements containing herbal ephedra from FDA MedWatch files as of Sept. 30, 2001. Fifty-seven serious psychiatric events were reported. Results: The most commonly reported events were psychosis, severe depression, mania or agitation, hallucinations, sleep disturbance, and suicidal ideation. Ten events involved physical harm to self or others; five events resulted in legal action due to criminal behavior. Twenty-six events resulted in hospitalization, at least six of which were involuntary. Of importance, two-thirds of all cases involved patients with preexisting psychiatric conditions and /or use of other medications or illicit substances. Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that serious psychiatric symptoms could be associated with ephedra use.
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U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.189
DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.189
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15625222
AN - SCOPUS:11844290644
SN - 0002-953X
VL - 162
SP - 189
EP - 191
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 1
ER -