Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report

Introduction Opioid withdrawal symptoms classically include severe muscle cramps, bone aches, autonomic symptoms, anxiety. Patients seldom have other complications like delirium and convulsions unless they have comorbid medical illnesses. Objectives We hereby report a case of opioid withdrawal del...

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Main Authors: D.S. Singh, S. Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021447/type/journal_article
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author D.S. Singh
S. Paul
author_facet D.S. Singh
S. Paul
author_sort D.S. Singh
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Opioid withdrawal symptoms classically include severe muscle cramps, bone aches, autonomic symptoms, anxiety. Patients seldom have other complications like delirium and convulsions unless they have comorbid medical illnesses. Objectives We hereby report a case of opioid withdrawal delirium. Methods A 20-year-old man with dependence for opiods and nicotine was admitted after compete history and mental status and physical examination, last intake for both substances 2 days back. There was no history of fever, head injury, siezures and other substance use. All investigations done were normal and urine drug screen was negative for other substances. Treatment was started with clonidine and quetiapine for sleep and Nsaids on prn basis. After 2 days there was hallucinatory behaviour, agitation, fleeting episodes of recognising family members, hearing voices and decreased sleep observed. Patient required sedation with 10 mg of lorazepam and haloperidol before he went to sleep.Later on lorazepam 8 mg in divided doses and clonidine was tapered off gradually and patient as discharged on naltrexone 50mg. Results In our case we could not find any other reason for delirium.These complications are rare feature of delirium, parker et all reported 5 such cases. One of limitations was we didnt do blood alcohol levels which could have ruled out alcohol use. Conclusions This case is unique in terms of presenting with delirium without convulsions after 4 days of abstinence. No associated comorbidities, organic causes, and other substance use in dependence pattern or recently used. Use of a street variety (mixed with impurities) could be a risk factor for delirium in our patient.Psychiatrist need to be aware of complication. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-057e23ad841e43029da77cae99a30b3f2023-11-17T05:07:19ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S828S82810.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2144Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case reportD.S. Singh0S. Paul1Neuro psychiatric and medical surgical centre, Psychiatry, pathankot, IndiaNeuro psychiatric and medical surgical centre, Anaesthesiology, pathankot, India Introduction Opioid withdrawal symptoms classically include severe muscle cramps, bone aches, autonomic symptoms, anxiety. Patients seldom have other complications like delirium and convulsions unless they have comorbid medical illnesses. Objectives We hereby report a case of opioid withdrawal delirium. Methods A 20-year-old man with dependence for opiods and nicotine was admitted after compete history and mental status and physical examination, last intake for both substances 2 days back. There was no history of fever, head injury, siezures and other substance use. All investigations done were normal and urine drug screen was negative for other substances. Treatment was started with clonidine and quetiapine for sleep and Nsaids on prn basis. After 2 days there was hallucinatory behaviour, agitation, fleeting episodes of recognising family members, hearing voices and decreased sleep observed. Patient required sedation with 10 mg of lorazepam and haloperidol before he went to sleep.Later on lorazepam 8 mg in divided doses and clonidine was tapered off gradually and patient as discharged on naltrexone 50mg. Results In our case we could not find any other reason for delirium.These complications are rare feature of delirium, parker et all reported 5 such cases. One of limitations was we didnt do blood alcohol levels which could have ruled out alcohol use. Conclusions This case is unique in terms of presenting with delirium without convulsions after 4 days of abstinence. No associated comorbidities, organic causes, and other substance use in dependence pattern or recently used. Use of a street variety (mixed with impurities) could be a risk factor for delirium in our patient.Psychiatrist need to be aware of complication. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021447/type/journal_articlesiezuresrare case reportopiodaddictiondeleriumconvulsionsopiod add addiction add delerium add mconvulsions
spellingShingle D.S. Singh
S. Paul
Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
European Psychiatry
siezures
rare case report
opiod
addiction
delerium
convulsions
opiod add addiction add delerium add mconvulsions
title Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
title_full Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
title_fullStr Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
title_full_unstemmed Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
title_short Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report
title_sort opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions a rare case report
topic siezures
rare case report
opiod
addiction
delerium
convulsions
opiod add addiction add delerium add mconvulsions
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822021447/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT dssingh opioidwithdrawaldeliriumwithoutconvulsionsararecasereport
AT spaul opioidwithdrawaldeliriumwithoutconvulsionsararecasereport