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Abstract #6171 Published in IGR 2-2
A case of suspected Alphagan-induced psychosis
Kim DD; Bay GAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology 2000; 8: 1132-1133
This is the description of a 68-year-old man who received brimonidine after a beta-blocker had failed to reduce his intraocular pressure. The patient received brimonidine for about three months before the family started to notice dramatic behavioral changes. In retrospect, the patient's wife reported that he began having subtle lapses of memory almost on initiation of treatment. Following this, the patient started complaining of being constantly tired and began to exhibit signs of depression. Shortly thereafter, he began a downward course during which time he became more and more subject to delusions. Anxiety overcame him and he worried about a host of irrational concerns, e.g., imminent blindness, death, financial ruin, and even people spying on him. The author instructed the patient to discontinue brimonidine. Shortly thereafter he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Against the patient's wishes, brimonidine was stopped and within 48 hours of discontinuing treatment, he returned to baseline and his paranoia disappeared. No rechallenge is described.
Classification:
11.3.3 Apraclonidine, brimonidine (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
