Mephentermine abuse for stamina, resulting in mania - a case report

Abstract

Mephentermine is an amphetamine-like drug used to treat hypotension. There have been case reports of mephentermine abuse in India, some associated with psychosis. This is the first to be associated with mania and the first reported from Kerala. We report the case of an adult male with a three-month history of irritable mood, increased energy and various other manic symptoms. Interview revealed three years history of intravenous mephentermine use for athletic enhancement that evolved to a dependence pattern. Higher mental function evaluation revealed deficits in concentration and recent memory. He was started on a combination of antipsychotic and mood stabilizer; psychoeducation was also initiated. Mania went into remission over three weeks but dependence continued, and the patient was then lost to follow-up. We expect this case report to increase awareness among both clinicians and the public and to start an investigation into the prevalence of this problem in at-risk populations.