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[Hallucinations during treatment with hydrochloroquine]
V Ferraro1, F Mantoux, K Denis
1Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital de l'Archet II, BP 3079, CHU, 06202 Nice Cedex 3, France.
Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|July 6, 2004
Summary
Hydrochloroquine can cause rare neuropsychiatric side effects like hallucinations in patients with erosive plantar lichen planus. These symptoms resolved after discontinuing the drug, highlighting a potential risk for dermatologists.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychiatry
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hydrochloroquine (Plaquenil) is used for various conditions, including dermatological disorders.
- Neuropsychiatric side effects, though rare, have been associated with hydrochloroquine treatment.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old woman developed cenesthetic hallucinations, depersonalization, and disorientation after 10 days of hydrochloroquine for erosive plantar lichen planus.
- Symptoms emerged alongside topical and oral corticosteroid treatment.
- Psychiatric manifestations resolved within a month after the patient spontaneously stopped hydrochloroquine.
Findings:
- Hydrochloroquine can induce psychosis-like psychiatric side effects, including hallucinations and disorientation.
- These reactions appear to be idiosyncratic and not dose-dependent.
- Psychiatric symptoms typically regress after drug discontinuation.
Implications:
- Dermatologists should be aware of the potential for severe neuropsychiatric side effects associated with hydrochloroquine.
- Early recognition and discontinuation of hydrochloroquine may be crucial for managing these adverse events.
- This case underscores the importance of monitoring patients for psychiatric symptoms during hydrochloroquine therapy.