OBJECTIVE: Psychogenic polydipsia occurs frequently in patients with chronic psychiatric illness and is often unmanageable. We herein report 5 patients in whom acetazolamide was trialed for this symptom. METHODS: We encountered a case in which polydipsia improved with incidental administration of acetazolamide. We then used this treatment for 4 additional cases of treatment-resistant psychogenic polydipsia, some of which were accompanied by hyponatremia. RESULTS: Acetazolamide improved polydipsia and/or hyponatremia in 4 of the 5 cases. This treatment was well tolerated and allowed 3 of the patients to permanently leave isolation. CONCLUSION: Acetazolamide appears to have a beneficial effect in psychogenic polydipsia.
OBJECTIVE:Psychogenic polydipsia occurs frequently in patients with chronic psychiatric illness and is often unmanageable. We herein report 5 patients in whom acetazolamide was trialed for this symptom. METHODS: We encountered a case in which polydipsia improved with incidental administration of acetazolamide. We then used this treatment for 4 additional cases of treatment-resistant psychogenic polydipsia, some of which were accompanied by hyponatremia. RESULTS:Acetazolamide improved polydipsia and/or hyponatremia in 4 of the 5 cases. This treatment was well tolerated and allowed 3 of the patients to permanently leave isolation. CONCLUSION:Acetazolamide appears to have a beneficial effect in psychogenic polydipsia.
Authors: Nilofar Dorani; Miranda M Zhang; Gopala K Rangan; Lara Abu-Zarour; Ho Ching Lau; Alexandra Munt; Ashley N Chandra; Sayanthooran Saravanabavan; Anna Rangan; Jennifer Q J Zhang; Martin Howell; Annette Ty Wong Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-12-09 Impact factor: 2.692