[Chronic bromide intoxication caused by bromide-containing combination drugs].

A 49-year-old woman who had noted increasing fatigue and found it difficult to concentrate became confused and uncoordinated with rapid speech. Anxious and suffering from insomnia she had for 6 weeks taken a prescription-free bromide-containing drug mixture (daily 0.09 g potassium bromide and 1.8 g sodium bromide), to a total bromide intake of 60 g. The admission diagnosis of chronic bromism was confirmed by a markedly increased serum bromide concentration (325 mg/l). Once she had stopped taking the drug and had increased her salt intake she became symptom-free within 8 days. The case demonstrates that, while chronic bromism has become rare, it should still be included in the differential diagnosis, even after intake of supposedly harmless medication.