Ciprofloxacin-Induced Psychosis
To the Editor: Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone group that is well-tolerated in adult population. Ciprofloxacin acts through binding two of the four topoisomerases of bacteria.1 Its common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, headache, and rashes.2 Rarely, neuropsychiatric adverse effects such as psychosis occur with ciprofloxacin.3 We report on an acute psychosis that developed in a patient treated with ciprofloxacin for gastroenteritis and which resolved spontaneously after discontinuation.
Case Report
“Ms. A,” a 22-year-old single woman presented with fever, diarrhea, and vomiting of 1 day’s duration, suggestive of acute gastroenteritis, for which she received ciprofloxacin infusion 100 mg bid for 3 days, followed by oral ciprofloxacin 250 mg bid for 3 more days, along with supportive treatment. There was improvement in her gastrointestinal symptoms with treatment, but she developed fearfulness, psychomotor retardation, episodes of visual and auditory hallucinations, and poor self-care. These symptoms resolved within 2 to 3 days without any additional intervention. Investigations including complete blood count, electrolytes, liver and renal function tests, and blood sugar were within normal range. Her birth and developmental history was unremarkable. There was no past or family history of any psychiatric illness. Premorbidly, she was well adjusted. Based on the Naranjo ADR Probability Scale4 score of 6, we considered a probable diagnosis of ciprofloxacin-induced psychosis.
Discussion
There are only few cases of psychosis reported with oral ciprofloxacin,5–11 and rarely with topical preparation.12 In all the reported cases, onset was early after administration of ciprofloxacin, and remission occurred with medication discontinuation. Psychosis has also been reported with other fluoroquinolones, such as norfloxacin,13 ofloxacin,14,15 levofloxacin,16 and gatifloxacin.17,18 The clinical manifestations in the reported cases are paranoid-hallucinatory type, as noted in our case. There is only one report of mania associated with ciprofloxacin.19
The mechanism of psychosis with fluoroquinolones is not known. It has been suggested that psychosis occurs through alteration of glutamatergic neurotransmission.11 The anecdotal reports suggest psychosis as an uncommon adverse effect with fluoroquinolones. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to consider drug-induced psychosis as a possibility when acute onset behavioral changes are associated with use of these medications.
1 : The fluoroquinolones: pharmacology, clinical uses, and toxicities in humans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1985; 28:716–721Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
2 : Ciprofloxacin: an overview of adverse experiences. J Antimicrob Chemother 1986; 18(Suppl D):187–193Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
3 : Safety and tolerability of fluoroquinolones. Clin Cornerstone 2003; (Suppl 3):S29–S36Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
4 : A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1981; 30:239–245Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
5 : Acute psychoses associated with the use of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Am J Med 1991; 90:528–529Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
6 : Ciprofloxacin induced psychosis. J Assoc Physicians India 1992; 40:418–419Medline, Google Scholar
7 : Ciprofloxacin-induced psychosis. Ann Pharmacother 1992; 26:930–931Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
8 : Ciprofloxacin-induced acute psychosis. Urology 1995; 46:102–103Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
9 : Ciprofloxacin-induced acute psychosis in a patient with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Eur Psychiatry 2003; 18:262–263Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
10 : Acute delusional parasitosis under treatment with ciprofloxacin. Pharmacopsychiatry 2006; 39:159–160Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
11 : A case of ciprofloxacin-induced acute polymorphic psychosis with a distinct deficit in executive functions. Psychosomatics 2007; 48:269Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
12 : Acute psychosis following the use of topical ciprofloxacin. Arch Ophthalmol 2002; 120:665–666Medline, Google Scholar
13 : Acute psychosis with Norfloxacin. J Assoc Physicians India 1994; 42:844Medline, Google Scholar
14 : Ofloxacin-induced psychosis. Br J Psychiatry 1987; 151:563–564Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
15 : Organic psychosis induced by ofloxacin and metronidazole. Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2009; 70:236–237Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
16 : Levofloxacin-induced acute psychosis. Indian J Psychiatry 2008; 50:57–58Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
17 : Gatifloxacin precipitation of psychosis in Alzheimer disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2003; 11:470–471Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
18 : Gatifloxacin-induced delirium and psychosis in an elderly demented woman. J Am Geriatr Soc 2006; 54:871Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
19 : Antibiomania and ciprofloxacin-induced mania. Psychosomatics 2007; 48:363Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar