A case of serial nightmares and oneiroid state under paroxetine for senile depression

Abstract

We report on rare side effects of paroxetine. A 67‐year‐old female patient who had been suffering from prolonged depression for over a year but had not received appropriate treatment was administered 20‐mg paroxetine daily. However, the patient required hospital admission after 16 days because of behavioural disturbances and delusions that she was being chased by evil persons from a religious group. The delusions were ultimately confirmed to be serial nightmares and an oneiroid state. The nightmares gradually disappeared following discontinuation of paroxetine. The Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale showed a score of 6 (probable). Reports on paroxetine‐induced nightmares are rare, and there is a possibility that, in this case, parexetine caused the nightmares in association with depression and assumed underlying brain dysfunction due to ageing.