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Updated: May 12, 2026

Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy As a Chronic Heart Failure Model in Swine
Published on: February 17, 2018
Ventricular tachycardia induced by weight loss pills
Manan Pareek1, Nils Henrik Hansson, Erik Lerkevang Grove
1Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
Abstract:
A previously healthy 29-year-old man was admitted with palpitations, dizziness, and near-syncope after he had recently started taking weight loss pills purchased on the internet. The pills contained caffeine and ephedrine. An electrocardiogram and telemetry revealed multiple episodes of non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, which was successfully treated with amiodarone. In conclusion, unauthorized weight loss pills can be harmful. In particular, ephedrine-containing drugs carry a risk of ventricular tachycardia and should be discouraged.
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