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Salbutamol inhaler abuse and psychosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Paul A Cotter
Paul A Cotter*
Affiliation:
Section of Metabolic Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, England
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Abstract

A case is described in which a man with asthma and a history of alcohol dependence presented with a paranoid psychosis refractory to standard neuroleptic treatment. Symptomatic improvement was achieved when abuse of salbutamol (Ventolin®) metered dose inhaler was discovered and an alternative β2-agonist delivery system prescribed. A contribution by salbutamol to the psychosis is proposed. It is suggested that increased awareness regarding psychiatric morbidity is needed when metered dose salbutamol inhalers are prescribed.

Keywords

Salbutamolβ2-agonistsMetered dose inhalersAbusePsychosesAffective disorders
Type
Case Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , June 1997 , pp. 76 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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