Title:A Case of Quinacrine-induced Psychosis: Case Report
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Author(s): Anangamanjari Pedapudi*, Jonathan Stewart and Ankita Patel
Affiliation:
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL33612,United States
Keywords:
Quinacrine, quinolines, psychosis, adverse drug reaction, case report, giardiasis.
Abstract:
Background: Quinacrine is an older antimalarial drug that remains in use for a variety
of illnesses including treatment-resistant giardiasis.
Case Presentation: We report a patient with no prior psychiatric history who developed mild, prodromal
psychiatric symptoms when treated with quinacrine for treatment-resistant giardiasis. Symptoms
resolved when the drug was stopped, recurred with greater severity (requiring involuntary
psychiatric hospitalization) when restarted and promptly resolved again when the drug was finally
stopped.
Conclusion: Although quinacrine remains in use today, providers may be unaware of its potential
for serious neuropsychiatric toxicity.