Diethylpropion and psychosis

Five female patients who developed psychosis while taking diethylpropion hydrochloride are described, four with paranoid psychosis and one with manic psychosis. In all but one patient, these drugs were medically prescribed. Although relatively few cases of psychosis and psychosis-like illness were reported to the Committee for Safety of Medicines from 1963 until 1986, further cases may be anticipated. Patients on the drug should be carefully supervised and it should not be prescribed to those with personality disorder, previous evidence of amphetamine, alcohol, or other drug abuse, or those with a history of psychiatric breakdown.