Acute onset of steroid psychosis with very low dose of prednisolone in Sheehan's syndrome.
Corticosteroid treatment is frequently associated with psychiatric disturbances. These adverse effects are unusual with low dose of corticosteroid. We describe a patient who rapidly developed a steroid-induced psychosis with very low dose of prednisolone. A 48-year-old woman of Sheehan's syndrome was admitted to hospital with insomnia, euphoric moods and visual hallucinations. She had taken prednisolone (10 mg in the morning and 5 mg at night) for 6 days before admission. These symptoms appeared after first dose of prednisolone. A diagnosis of acute psychosis was made. After improvement of acute psychosis with discontinuation, re-administration of prednisolone at a dose of 2.5 mg per day gave rise to agitation and insomnia. She recovered completely by gradual dosage increase of short-acting corticosteroid after the discontinuation of prednisolone.
Hong
Se In
SI
Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Japan.
Cho
Dong Hyeok
DH
Kang
Ho Cheol
HC
Chung
Dong Jin
DJ
Chung
Min Young
MY
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D011239:Prednisolone; D013974:Thyroxine