Clenbuterol hypokalemia

Clenbuterol ingestion causing prolonged tachycardia, hypokalemia,... 

Hoffman RJ, Hoffman RS, Freyberg CL, Poppenga RH, Nelson LS. Clenbuterol ingestion causing prolonged tachycardia, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia with confirmation by quantitative levels. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2001 39(4) 339-44. 

A 28-year-old woman developed a sustained sinus tachycardia (140/minute), hypokalemia (2.4 mmol/1), hypophosphatemia (0.29 mmol/1), and hypomagnesemia (0.76 mmol/1) after accidentally ingesting a reportedly small quantity of clenbuterol. She was treated with metoprolol and potassium. Her serum clenbuterol concentration was 2.93 ng/ml 3 hours after ingestion, well above the maximal peak serum concentration of... 

These changes may go unnoticed or can on occasion cause morbidity and/or mortality. From 28 January to 2 February 2005, nine cases of atypical reactions to heroin were reported from a county in New Jersey, USA. The patients had nausea, chest pain, palpitation, agitation, anxiety, tachycardia, hypotension, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis with increased lactate concentrations. Cyanide poisoning was suspected, but cyanide was not found and specific treatment was ineffective. However, clenbuterol was identified as an adulterant in a sample of heroin obtained by the police. A public health alert was issued usingthe USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s EPI-X system... 

Drug adulteration Adulteration of heroin with clenbuterol is frequently reported [112 ]. In 13 confirmed cases of exposure to clenbuterol in this way, clenbuterol was identified in the blood and or urine of 12 [113 ]. Symptoms included nausea, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, and tremor. The physical findings included significant tachycardia and hypotension, and there was laboratory evidence of hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, and increased lactate concentrations six patients had biochemical evidence of myocardial injury. Ten were given beta-adrenoceptor antagonists without adverse effects. 

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