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Acute psychosis after mefloquine: a case report
1Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
East African Medical Journal
|December 1, 1994
Summary
A young male experienced psychosis, including hallucinations and insomnia, after taking mefloquine for malaria. The doctor did not link the drug to the patient's symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mefloquine is an antimalarial drug used to treat or prevent malaria caused by chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
- Psychiatric adverse events, including psychosis, have been reported with mefloquine use, although causality is sometimes debated.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old male developed a self-limiting psychosis with visual and auditory hallucinations and insomnia.
- These symptoms emerged shortly after the administration of mefloquine for presumed chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria.
Findings:
- The case highlights a potential association between mefloquine administration and the onset of psychotic symptoms in a susceptible individual.
- The psychosis was characterized by prominent hallucinations and insomnia, resolving on its own.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering mefloquine as a potential trigger for psychosis, even in young patients.
- Healthcare providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for drug-induced psychosis when evaluating patients with new-onset psychiatric symptoms after mefloquine use.
- Early recognition and discontinuation of the offending agent may be crucial for managing mefloquine-associated psychosis.