Pseudoephedrine Carditis

Report:

Sinus rhythm 96/min

Nonspecific ST/T changes

Comment:

The definite T wave inversion in multiple leads is consistent with sympathomimetic agents’ toxicity. The tachycardia was already resolving at the time of this recording; the trace normalised over the following fortnight. A partially normalised trace two days after the first ECG is shown below (Fig 177a).

Pseudoephedrine is present in several proprietary mixtures and is sold ‘over the counter’ for colds. It is often not listed by the patient as medication. It rarely causes cardiac abnormalities, but they are well described.

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