Allergic laryngospasm on initiating oral propranolol therapy

A 29-year-old woman suffered acute laryngospasm on taking the initial dose of propranolol hydrocholoride for the treatment of hypertension associated with a hyperdynamic circulatory state. Hypersensitivity to the tartrazine additive used as a stabilizing agent in oral propranolol appeared the likely cause of anaphylaxis, although a direct hypersensitivity to propranolol itself could not be excluded.