New-Onset Psychosis in a
Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patient on Cycloserine
in Calabar, Nigeria: A Case Report
Akaninyene A Otu1,
Jonah B Offor2, Ibene A Ekpor1 and
Oladimeji Olarenwaju3
1University of Calabar
Teaching Hospital, 2Lawrence Henshaw
Memorial Hospital, 1University of
Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, 3Damien
Foundation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
.
*For correspondence:
Email:
akanotu@yahoo.com;
Tel: +234-8105723133.
Received: 28 December 2012
Revised accepted: 9 January
2014
Tropical Journal of
Pharmaceutical Research, January 2014;
13(2):
303-305
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v13i2.21
Abstract
Drug-resistant tuberculosis
poses a serious challenge to global control of TB.
These forms of TB do not respond to the standard
six-month treatment; it can take two years or more to
treat with category IV drugs that are less potent, more
toxic and much more expensive. Treatment of multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis is still evolving in Nigeria.
This case report highlights the side effects of
cycloserine used to treat a multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis patient in Calabar. Five days into therapy,
he became disoriented, abusive and physically
aggressive. He also displayed negativisim with paranoid
delusions and insomnia. He was managed by a psychiatrist
with anti-psychotic drugs. The dose of cycloserine was
also reduced while that of pyridoxine was increased. He
remained in a state of periodic confusion and psychosis
for nine days after which his condition ameliorated. It
is imperative that clinicians involved in treating
multi-drug resistant tuberculosis are conversant with
the side effects of category IV drugs. Acute psychosis
from cycloserine toxicity requires prompt intervention
by trained medical personnel using the relevant
psychotropic medications. Reduction in dosage or
outright stoppage of cycloserine in such situations
should be considered. Use of pyridoxine in large doses
also appears to be beneficial.
Keywords:
Psychosis, Tuberculosis,
Cycloserine, Multidrug resistance, Category IV drugs