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Related Experiment Videos

Imipramine-associated hyperpigmentation.

Charles E Dean1, Frank M Grund

  • 1Tardive Dyskinesia Clinic, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center and School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55417-2309, USA. charles.dean@med.va.gov

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|May 30, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Long-term imipramine use can cause severe facial hyperpigmentation, especially in males. Early recognition and intervention are crucial to prevent irreversible skin discoloration and associated social isolation.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant used for various psychiatric conditions.
  • Facial hyperpigmentation is a rare but serious adverse effect associated with certain medications.

Observation:

  • A case of a 65-year-old male patient with paranoid schizophrenia developed severe facial hyperpigmentation attributed to long-term imipramine use.
  • The patient's condition, characterized by a "purple face," led to significant social isolation and embarrassment.
  • Brain imaging revealed metabolic changes that normalized over time, independent of the hyperpigmentation.

Findings:

  • Facial hyperpigmentation from imipramine is uncommon, particularly in males, with only two reported cases.
  • Delayed recognition of this adverse reaction led to continued imipramine treatment, resulting in an apparently irreversible condition.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Neuroimaging findings suggest potential neuroleptic-induced metabolic alterations in the brain.

    • Implications:

    • Clinicians must be vigilant for rare adverse drug reactions like imipramine-induced hyperpigmentation.
    • Prompt identification and management are essential to prevent irreversible outcomes and improve patient quality of life.
    • Further research into neuroleptic-associated metabolic changes may be warranted.