Hazards of antihistamine dependence in psychiatric patients: A case report

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rao, Mukund G.¹ | Varambally, Shivarama^* | Venkatasubramanian, Ganesan | Gangadhar, Bangalore N.

Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Shivarama Varambally, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India. Tel.: +91 80 26995253/+91 80 26995261; ssv.nimhans@gmail.com

Note: [1] Dr. Mukund G. Rao, Registrar, North West Area Mental Health, Level 1, 130 Bell Street, Coburg, Melbourne, Victoria 3058, Australia. vmgrao@gmail.com

Abstract: Excessive use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications has been a growing public health problem. We present the case of a patient with avoidant personality disorder, social phobia, and dull normal intelligence, with dependence to pheniramine maleate. His anxiety symptoms, initially unresponsive to conventional treatment, reduced only after stopping pheniramine during inpatient care. This case emphasizes the need for awareness and regular monitoring of the use of OTC medications in vulnerable patient populations.

Keywords: Antihistamine, abuse, dependence, social anxiety, avoidant personality disorder, anxiety disorder

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-150656

Journal: International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 153-157, 2015