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Tramadol-related psychosis in a patient with bipolar I disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2015

Kuan-Jen Chen ,
Mong-Liang Lu  and
Winston W. Shen
Kuan-Jen Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Mong-Liang Lu*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Winston W. Shen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
*
Mong-Liang Lu, Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, No. 111, Section 3, Hsin-Long Road, Taipei 116, Taiwan.Tel: +88 622 930 7930, ext. 53961; Fax: +88 622 930 2448; E-mail: mongliang@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction

Tramadol hydrochloride (HCl) is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic. Psychotic symptoms are relatively rare in reported adverse events. Here, we report a patient who presented with tramadol-related psychotic symptoms.

Case

A 59-year-old female had underlying bipolar I disorder and received lithium treatment with stable affective status. 1 month before hospitalisation, she had been taking tramadol HCl/acetaminophen for joint pain. She then developed obvious persecutory delusion. However, her clinical picture did not meet the criteria of any mood episode. After treatment of risperidone in addition to lithium, she was discharged without any psychotic symptom. She remained euthymic without any psychotic symptom on monotherapy of lithium (300 mg) three tablets once daily.

Conclusions

Tramadol HCl is commonly prescribed in clinical practice and psychotic symptoms related to it are uncommon. We should be careful about the rare but important adverse events while prescribing tramadol HCl.

Keywords

bipolar disorderdelusionspsychosistramadol
Type
Case Report
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 2015 , pp. 126 - 128
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Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2015 

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