Sympathomimetic Drug Abuse Masking an Endogenous Hyperadrenergic State, Graves' Disease

Abstract

Sympathomimetic drug use or abuse in a thyrotoxic individual can be clinically devastating as a result of enhanced cellular sensitivity to adrenergic stimulation. Thus, it is critical to recognize thyrotoxicosis in a patient with coexistent sympathomimetic drug abuse. This case report describes a patient with Graves' disease and severe hyperadrenergic symptomatology that was thought to result from sympathomimetic drug abuse.

Index Terms:

• amphetamines
• cocaine
• thyrotoxicosis