Pharmacopsychiatry 2007; 40(5): 199-200
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-985882
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Delirium Associated with Paroxetine in an Elderly Depressive Patient: A Case Report

M. Wakeno 1 , G. Okugawa 1 , Y. Takekita 1 , M. Kato 1 , 3 , T. Fukuda 2 , M. Yamashita 2 , Y. Hosoi 2 , J. Azuma 2 , T. Kinoshita 1
  • 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
  • 2Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
  • 3Institute of Psychiatry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

received 12.03.2007 revised 12.06.2007

accepted 03.07.2007

Publication Date:
17 September 2007 (online)

Introduction

Paroxetine is one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly used as a first-choice agent in depression treatment. These agents should be selected carefully based on complications and the age-related reduction of drug metabolism in elderly patients to reduce the risk of side effects.

Delirium indicates acute reversible changes in the consciousness level, being common in elderly persons [7]. Etiological factors for delirium include encephalopathy, systemic disorders, alcohol, and drugs. Delirium also seems to be frequently caused by the intake of anticholinergic, antidepressive, and dopamine-activating drugs [6]. In this study, we report on an elderly patient with depression in whom paroxetine therapy at an increased dose induced delirium.

References

  • 1 American Psychiatric Association .Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th edn. APA,Washington,DC 1994
  • 2 Bertelsen KM, Venkatakrishnan K, Moltke LL Von, Obach RS, Greenblatt DJ. Apparent mechanism-based inhibition of human CYP2D6 in vitro by paroxetine: comparison with fluoxetine and quinidine.  Drug Metab Dispos. 2003;  31 289-293
  • 3 Chuang YF, Chiu YL, Hwang TJ, Chu TS. Delirium and multiple electrolyte abnormalities associated with high dose paroxetine exposure.  Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;  60 642-643
  • 4 Guengerich FP, Miller GP, Hanna IH, Martin MV, Leger S, Black C, Chauret N, Silva JM, Trimble LA, Yergey JA, Nicoll-Griffith DA. Diversity in the oxidation of substrates by cytochrome P450 2D6: lack of an obligatory role of aspartate 301-substrate electrostatic bonding.  Biochemistry. 2002;  41 11025-11034
  • 5 Hoffmeyer S, Burk O, Richter O von, Arnold HP, Brockmoller J, Johne A, Cascorbi I, Gerloff T, Roots I, Eichelbaum M, Brinkmann U. Functional polymorphisms of the human multidrug-resistance gene. multiple sequence variations and correlation of one allele with P-glycoprotein expression and activity in vivo.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2000;  97 3473-3478
  • 6 Karlsson I. Drugs that induce delirium.  Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 1999;  10 412-415
  • 7 Lipowski ZJ. Delirium; Acute confusional states. Oxford University Press, New York 1990
  • 8 Pitsavas A, Garyfallos G. Late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder without evidence of focal cerebral lesions: A case report.  J NeuroPsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004;  16 116-117
  • 9 Sawamura K, Suzuki Y, Someya T. Effect of dosage and CYP2D6-mutated allele on plasma concentration of paroxetine.  Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2004;  60 553-557
  • 10 Sindrup SH, Brosen K, Gram LF, Hallas J, Skjelbo E, Allen A, Allen GD, Cooper SM, Mellows G, Tasker TCG, Zussman BD. The relationship between paroxetine and the sparteine oxidation polymorphism.  Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1992;  51 278-287
  • 11 Suzuki Y, Sawamura K, someya T. The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor gene polymorphism on the clinical response to fluvoxamine in depressed patients.  Pharmacogenomics Journal. 2004;  4 283-286
  • 12 Ueda M, Hirokane G, Morita S, Okawa M, Watanabe T, Akiyama K, Shimoda K. Impact of CYP2D6 genotypes on the plasma concentration of paroxetine in Japanese psychiatric patients.  Prog Neuropsychopharmaco Biol Psy. 2006;  30 486-491
  • 13 Yoon YR, Cha IJ, Shon JH, Kim KA, Cha YN, Jang IJ, Park CW, Shin SG, Flockhart DA, Shin JG. Relationship of paroxetine disposition to metoprolol metabolic ratio and CYP2D6*10 genotype of Korean subjects.  Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2000;  67 567-576

Correspondence

M. WakenoMD 

Department of Neuropsychiatry

Kansai Medical University

10-15 Fumizonocho

Moriguchi

570-8506 Osaka

Japan

Phone: +81/6/6992 10 01

Fax: +81/6/6995 26 69

Email: wakenoma@takii.kmu.ac.jp