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Background Drugs including some of the antimicrobial agents (AMAs) can cause mild to severe intensity of hypokalemia, which leads to cardiac, muscular, renal, gastrointestinal, and metabolic manifestations. Objective To explore the possible association of AMAs use and the development of hypokalemia as an adverse drug reaction (ADR). Methodology Retrospective analysis of spontaneously individual case safety reports (ICSRs) received during January 2015 to September 2017 for any reduction in serum potassium levels following the use of AMAs. Such ICSRs were further analyzed for age, gender, seriousness and severity of hypokalemia, outcome, concomitant drugs, management of hypokalemia, and causality assessment using WHO-UMC causality assessment scale. Result Out of total 2,880 spontaneous ICSR, 53 had report title of hypokalemia. In almost half of these (27) ICSRs, AMAs were suspected to induced hypokalemia. Ceftriaxone (24.5%) and azithromycin (10.5%) were most suspected AMAs. Females (74.19%) aged between 21 years and 40 years experienced more AMA induced hypokalemia. The mild, moderate, and severe hypokalemia was present in 53.8%, 40.7%, and 7.4% of ICSRs, respectively. Drug–drug interaction of AMA with either furosemide, hydrocortisone and/or deriphyllin was present in six ICSRs. Causal association of all the ICSRs with AMA induced hypokalemia was possible. Conclusion Antimicrobial agents (especially ceftriaxone and azithromycin)-induced hypokalemia alert needs to be investigated. Further, healthcare professionals are advocated to take caution by monitoring serum potassium levels routinely for such patients. How to cite this article Rehan HS, Hotha P, Antimicrobial Agentsinduced Hypokalemia: A Possible Causality Association. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(4):175-177.

Background: Dextromethorphan, a N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, has been used as cold and cough medication. Serious adverse events with therapeutic doses of dextromethorphan are rarely observed. Here, we report three cases of altered level of consciousness in children with therapeutic dose of dextromethorphan. Case Presentation: In all three cases, children developed altered level of consciousness after taking first dose of syrup dextromethorphan. Children were unresponsive to any verbal command and pain stimuli. Medical history revealed no pre-existing comorbidities. Other systemic, cardiovascular, abdominal, respiratory and nervous system examinations were normal. All patients were hospitalised and managed with symptomatic and supportive care. Dextromethorphan was stopped. After adequate treatment, all of them recovered satisfactorily. The causality assessment was done based on the World Health Organization Uppsala Monitoring Centre causality scale and it was probable/likely in all three cases. Conclusion: In children, altered level of consciousness could occur with therapeutic doses of dextromethorphan; hence, health care professionals should prescribe dextromethorphan with extreme caution.

The World Health Organization classifies cycloserine as a group four second line anti tubercular drug for the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis. Neuropsychiatric adverse drug reactions associated with cycloserine need more attention as they may compromise treatment success. Here, we report a case of cycloserine induced psychosis, insomnia and suicidal attempts in a young female patient with pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB). A 20-year-old female patient was prescribed longer oral XDR-TB regimen (high dose of moxifloxacin, cycloserine, linezolid, clofazimine, bedaquiline and pyridoxine). After fifteen days of treatment, patient developed changes in behaviour with frequent episodes of spontaneous and excessive laughing or crying. She also developed insomnia, started to hear voices and made two attempts of suicide. Following this, cycloserine was discontinued. Clonazepam and clomipramine were prescribed to her. Patient gradually recovered over a period of one month. Extreme caution with regular and close monitoring should be exercised while administering cycloserine because psychiatric adverse drug reactions could be associated with increased risk of poor drug adherence in drug resistant tuberculosis.