Observations placeholder
Laxative abuse
Identifier
005572
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1977 Oct 28;102(43):1555-9. [Paralysis, organic brain syndrome, and cardiac dysrhythmias caused by chronic laxative abuse (author's transl)]. [Article in German]
Dahlmann W, Volles E, Lüderitz B.
A 39-year-old woman developed generalised paralysis, reversible organic brain syndrome, and cardiac dysrhythmias after 15 years of laxative abuse. Under continuous and cautious administration of potassium the cardiac rhythm became normal within four days and two days later the paralysis and organic brain syndrome almost disappeared. The cause of the psychiatric symptoms is thought to be cerebral potassium deficiency and an abnormal sodium/potassium equilibrium. Other clinical signs and symptoms due to extreme potassium depletion are presented. The importance of Na+/K+-activated membrane ATP-ase in myocardium and CNS is discussed.
PMID: 913296