Hypertensive crisis resulting from an MAO inhibitor and an over-the-counter appetite suppressant.

We present the case of a 28-year-old man being treated with Nardil for chronic depression who developed a hypertensive crisis and a severe occipital headache one hour after ingesting an over-the-counter appetite suppressant. The adverse reactions between MAO inhibitors and phenylpropanolamine and discussed, as are the dangers of using Demerol to treat the headache and Aldomet to treat the hypertension.