Herbal sex supplement that raised BP to deadly levels

Dr Amy Prescott at Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC and colleagues have reported a case of high Blood pressure, BP to deadly levels due to use of a herbal sex enhancer. The case has appeared in the Journal of emergency medicine.

Herbal supplements and natural medicines are order of the day as they are considered to be safe and bereft of any side effects even when used on long term basis.

Hypertensive urgency is a clinical scenario that may be associated with herbal supplement use and that requires special consideration with regard to emergency department management.

According to the history a 49-year-old man reported to medical emergency with discomfort chest on exertion along with lightheadedness and anxiety.

On examination his Blood pressure,BP reading turned out to be 280/160 mm Hg.Doctors consider any blood pressure measurement above 180/120 mm Hg to be a hypertensive crisis that requires immediate medical care.

Doctors attempted to lower his blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs including multiple doses of oral clonidine and intravenous labetalol. But the treatment didn't work out and his blood pressure remained above 210/125 mm Hg.

He refused having any previous history of high Blood pressure and also any history of smoking.He however admitted to taking a herbal supplement touted for sexual enhancement.

Doctors found that the supplement contained yohimbine, a compound found in the bark of the West African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe. Supplements with yohimbine are often marketed as sexual enhancers.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH),Yohimbine is known to increase blood pressure and it also has other side effects including a rapid heart rate, anxiety, stomach problems, heart attack and seizures.

For further reference log on to:

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016j.jemermed.2019.03.008

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Herbal sex supplement that raised BP to deadly levels

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