Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report
Introduction Ischemic colitis (IC) is a rare condition due to hypoperfusion in the large intestine. Usually the etiology is unidentified, but many drugs are known to induce it because of their anticholinergic effects. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman, with the diagnosis of histrionic pers...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018302/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616968015020032 |
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| author | C. Alvarez Garcia A. Sanz Giancola L. Nocete Navarro |
| author_facet | C. Alvarez Garcia A. Sanz Giancola L. Nocete Navarro |
| author_sort | C. Alvarez Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Ischemic colitis (IC) is a rare condition due to hypoperfusion in the large intestine. Usually the etiology is unidentified, but many drugs are known to induce it because of their anticholinergic effects. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman, with the diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder, in treatment with quetiapine and venlafaxine. She attended the hospital due to diffuse abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia in the last two days. An abdominal CT scan is made, showing parietal thickening and submucosal edema in the colon, without any tumoral findings, suggesting IC.
Objectives
To point up the correlation between IC and the intake of psychotropic drugs.
Methods
We conducted a narrative review of the literature through the presentation of a case. Articles were selected based on their clinical relevance.
Results
There are reported cases of IC related to antipsychotics, but any drug with anticholinergic effects can potentially cause it. Anticholinergics reduce intestinal motility, leading to colonic ileus and dilatation. Both quetiapine and venlafaxine, taken by the patient, have these effects. Common obstructive and non-obstructive processes are excluded due to the absence of any other pathological signs. For these reasons, the diagnosis of IC secondary to treatment with quetiapine and venlafaxine is made.
Conclusions
Many psychotropic drugs can produce IC owing to their anticholinergic effects, being this chance increased when taken simultaneously with other drugs with same effects. IC is a rare but fatal side effect, which makes it important to consider it in the differential diagnosis in patients in treatment with psychotropics who suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:48:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbd492126a904497912452443485dff5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:48:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbd492126a904497912452443485dff52023-11-17T05:07:08ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S710S71010.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1830Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case reportC. Alvarez Garcia0A. Sanz Giancola1L. Nocete Navarro2Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, SpainHospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, SpainHospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares, Spain Introduction Ischemic colitis (IC) is a rare condition due to hypoperfusion in the large intestine. Usually the etiology is unidentified, but many drugs are known to induce it because of their anticholinergic effects. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman, with the diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder, in treatment with quetiapine and venlafaxine. She attended the hospital due to diffuse abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia in the last two days. An abdominal CT scan is made, showing parietal thickening and submucosal edema in the colon, without any tumoral findings, suggesting IC. Objectives To point up the correlation between IC and the intake of psychotropic drugs. Methods We conducted a narrative review of the literature through the presentation of a case. Articles were selected based on their clinical relevance. Results There are reported cases of IC related to antipsychotics, but any drug with anticholinergic effects can potentially cause it. Anticholinergics reduce intestinal motility, leading to colonic ileus and dilatation. Both quetiapine and venlafaxine, taken by the patient, have these effects. Common obstructive and non-obstructive processes are excluded due to the absence of any other pathological signs. For these reasons, the diagnosis of IC secondary to treatment with quetiapine and venlafaxine is made. Conclusions Many psychotropic drugs can produce IC owing to their anticholinergic effects, being this chance increased when taken simultaneously with other drugs with same effects. IC is a rare but fatal side effect, which makes it important to consider it in the differential diagnosis in patients in treatment with psychotropics who suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018302/type/journal_articleIschemic colitisside effectanticholinergicpsychopharmaceuticals |
| spellingShingle | C. Alvarez Garcia A. Sanz Giancola L. Nocete Navarro Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report European Psychiatry Ischemic colitis side effect anticholinergic psychopharmaceuticals |
| title | Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report |
| title_full | Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report |
| title_short | Ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs: a case report |
| title_sort | ischemic colitis induced by psychotropics drugs a case report |
| topic | Ischemic colitis side effect anticholinergic psychopharmaceuticals |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018302/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT calvarezgarcia ischemiccolitisinducedbypsychotropicsdrugsacasereport AT asanzgiancola ischemiccolitisinducedbypsychotropicsdrugsacasereport AT lnocetenavarro ischemiccolitisinducedbypsychotropicsdrugsacasereport |