TOXIC PSYCHOSES ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTRATION OF QUINACRINE

Abstract

EVER VER since quinacrine hydrochloride was introduced into the therapyof malaria, it has been considered a most valuable addition to the series of antimalarial drugs, owing to its well established effectiveness, together with its relatively low toxicity. This evaluation of the drug has not changed, even though reports of toxic effects after therapeutic doses and, in particular, of mental disorders following treatment with the drug were described as early as 1933. In that year Conoley1gave an unpublished report on psychosis following treatment with quinacrine. In 1934 Kingsbury,2utilizing observations of his own, as well as of others (Cameron,3Green,4Hoops,5McSwan,6Quaife7), collected a series of 12 cases of psychoses associated with quinacrine therapy, with the records available, which had been observed in the Malay States. Six more cases were published by Banerjee8in 1936, from India. Decherd,9in 1937,