Toxicity of Passiflora incarnata L.

Background: Herbal medicines may have significant adverse effects which are not suspected or recognized. Case Report: A 34-year-old female developed s evere nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, prolonged QT(c), and episodes of nonsus tained ventricular tachycardia following self-administration of a herbal re medy, Passiflora incarnata L., at therapeutic doses. The possible associati on of symptoms with passiflora was not recognized for several days. She req uired hospital admission for cardiac monitoring and intravenous fluid thera py. Conclusions: Passiflora incarnata was associated with significant adver se effects in this patient. It is important to ask specifically about the u se of herbal medicines in patients with undiagnosed illnesses.