Berberine Poisoning with Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report
Melson P Mesmin, Marit S Tweet, Sharon H Kim, Tyler J Fulks · 2026
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Description
Mesmin and colleagues reported a 2026 case of a dangerous heart rhythm problem linked to berberine, a herbal supplement sold freely, used for blood sugar and heart health. A 92-year-old man came to the emergency department with tremors, incontinence, and brief fainting spells that began about two weeks after he started berberine for his diabetes.
Mesmin describes repeated episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, a chaotic fast rhythm, with loss of pulse that needed immediate electric shocks. Testing confirmed the pattern as torsades de pointes, a rhythm tied to a prolonged heart-repolarization interval, which was far beyond normal on his tracing. Standard rhythm drugs did not stop the attacks, but lidocaine plus isoproterenol infusions in the ICU did. With berberine withheld, his interval shortened close to normal by hospital day three and he went home without attacks. The authors call for more research and talks with patients about supplement risks.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Melson P Mesmin, Marit S Tweet, Sharon H Kim, Tyler J Fulks |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 11 KB |
| LICENSE | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |