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Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

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'Gym Tonic' and Quadriparesis.

Himatrao S Bawaskar1, Parag H Bawaskar2, Pramodini H Bawaskar1

  • 1Bawaskar Hospital and Clinical research center Mahad Raigad, Maharashtra.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Illicit gym medications caused sudden paralysis in a young patient. The dangerous "gym-tonic" mixture of Cyproheptadine and dexamethasone resulted in severe hypokalemic paralysis.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical Case Report
  • Toxicology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Illicit prescription of medications by non-medical professionals poses significant health risks.
  • Gym instructors may inappropriately recommend substances, leading to adverse drug events.
  • Drug-induced paralysis is a serious, albeit rare, complication of substance misuse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of acute quadriparesis following the consumption of illicitly prescribed drugs.
  • To highlight the dangers of unmonitored medication use, specifically the combination of Cyproheptadine and dexamethasone.
  • To emphasize the potential for severe hypokalemic paralysis from such concoctions.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a young patient experiencing acute onset quadriparesis.
  • Analysis of the patient's history, focusing on the consumption of a "gym-tonic" mixture.
  • Identification of Cyproheptadine and dexamethasone as the active components responsible for the adverse event.

Main Results:

  • The patient developed acute quadriparesis after ingesting a mixture containing Cyproheptadine and dexamethasone.
  • Laboratory investigations revealed significant hypokalemia (low potassium levels).
  • The clinical presentation was consistent with drug-induced hypokalemic paralysis.

Conclusions:

  • The illicit prescription of Cyproheptadine and dexamethasone by a gym instructor led to severe hypokalemic paralysis.
  • This case underscores the critical importance of professional medical guidance for any medication use.
  • Awareness among healthcare providers and the public regarding the dangers of unverified "performance-enhancing" substances is crucial.