His review of system was otherwise unremarkable. He had an episode of a seizure after methamphetamine use. He had a seizure disorder but he was not on medication. The patient did not have any cardiac problem in the past. He was on methadone maintenance program as well. He was an active poly substance abuser and used different drugs like marijuana, alprazolam, amphetamine, cocaine, percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) and clonazepam regularly. Here we present a case of methamphetamine overdose, which presented with cardiomyopathy and severe systolic heart failure whose cardiac function was normalized after treatment.Ī 38-year-old male presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness and sweating which started after he used intravenous crystal meth the day before presentation. Chronic methamphetamine use is associated with coronary artery disease, chronic hypertension and cardiomyopathy 6. Acute cardiac complications of methamphetamine like chest pain, hypertension, arrhythmias, aortic dissection, acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathy, and sudden cardiac death have been reported 4, 5. Methamphetamine intoxication causes various systemic complications like sympathetic over activity, agitation, seizure, stroke, rhabdomyolysis and cardiovascular collapse. Methamphetamine is more potent, and its effects last longer than cocaine 2, 3. Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted, injected or ingested orally. It causes the release and blocks the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin in neuronal synapse. Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant which acts both on central and peripheral nervous system. Methamphetamine and related compounds are the most widely abused drugs in the world after cannabis 1. Keywords: Methamphetamine, cardiomyopathy, heart failureĪbbreviations: EKG: Electrocardiogram, ECHO: Echocardiogram, CT: Computed tomography, LVEDP: Left ventricular end diastolic pressure His cardiac function recovered fully after medical management. We report a case of patient who presented with cardiomyopathy and acute heart failure due to intravenous methamphetamine abuse. Methamphetamine abuse is associated with various cardiac complications like acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death. Ashok Raj Devkota, Alix Dufrense and Premraj ParajuliĬite this article as: BJMP 2015 8(4):a830 If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.Ĭopyright 1996-2021 Cerner Multum, Inc. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.