Phenylpropanolamine-associated hypertension after the use of "over-the-counter" appetite-suppressant products.

Eight apparently normotensive Australian women patients developed hypertension after taking appetite-suppressant preparations which contained high doses of phenylpropanolamine. The margin between the maximum dose permitted to be sold in some States of Australia without prescription, and the doses documented as causing hypertension is small. Three patients took twice the recommended dose--a pattern of behaviour which has been described previously. Changes to the regulations governing the availability of phenylpropanolamine may have reduced the risk of this adverse effect, but the use and misuse of preparations still available over-the-counter may not be without danger.