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Acute delusional parasitosis under treatment with ciprofloxacin

T Steinert, H Studemund

    Pharmacopsychiatry
    |July 28, 2006
    PubMed

    Insights

    Ciprofloxacin can cause psychosis, including delusional parasitosis, even in healthy individuals. Stopping the antibiotic led to a full recovery without psychiatric medication.

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Neuroscience
    • Psychiatry

    Background:

    • Ciprofloxacin is a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
    • Adverse psychiatric effects of ciprofloxacin, including psychosis, have been reported in case studies.
    • These effects can occur in patients with pre-existing mental health conditions or in healthy individuals.

    Observation:

    • A case report details a 45-year-old man with no prior mental health history.
    • The patient developed acute delusional parasitosis shortly after starting ciprofloxacin treatment.
    • Symptoms resolved completely and sustainably within days of discontinuing the antibiotic.

    Findings:

    • Ciprofloxacin administration was directly linked to the onset of delusional parasitosis.
    • Discontinuation of ciprofloxacin resulted in rapid and complete remission of psychotic symptoms.
    • No psychopharmacological interventions were required for recovery.

    Implications:

    • This case highlights a potential neuropsychiatric side effect of ciprofloxacin, even in the absence of prior mental illness.
    • It suggests a possible direct neurotoxic effect of ciprofloxacin.
    • Further research into the mechanisms of ciprofloxacin-induced psychosis is warranted.

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