Psychotic Reactions Following the Naive Ingestion of an Anorectic, Phenylpropanolamine, in Psychiatric Patients

Two clinical case histories are presented that indicate that naive ingestion of the anorectic, phenylpropanolamine, may induce psychotic reactions in patients with preexisting diagnosed psychiatric disturbance. These clinical observations and concerns are buttressed by a review of the scientific literature relevant to the psychotic inducing effects of phenylpropanolamine and structurally similar sympathomimetic derivatives of β-phenylethylamine, such as amphetamine and ephedrine.