[Severe poisoning by 4-aminopyridine in a body builder]

A 22-year-old man was admitted to hospital with severe, accidental intoxication with 4-aminopyridine, a medicine which increases the acetylcholine concentration in the synapses and has a limited application in the treatment of some neurological diseases. The patient acted on the assumption of body-building capacities of this 'amino'. Apart from the previously documented symptoms of intoxication such as an epileptic attack and confusion, he showed cardiac arrhythmias, conduction disorders and severe hypertension. The serum concentration of 4-aminopyridine was 335 mg/l, while the therapeutic level is 25-75 mg/l.