Psychiatric effects of drugs for other disorders

Psychiatric adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have been reported with a diverse range of medicines used in the treatment of physical illness. Whereas some are mild (such as transient sleep disturbances), others are severe (such as psychosis) and warrant discontinuation of the suspected causal agents. Some reactions are predictable, while others are unpredictable. The mechanism by which they are mediated is often unclear. It is essential that serious psychiatric ADRs observed during routine clinical practice be reported via the UK's Yellow Card reporting scheme as many are relatively uncommon and may only be detected through postmarketing surveillance in the wider population. Patients have reported finding symptoms of psychiatric ADRs extremely distressing and sometimes frightening, and may be hesitant to mention these to prescribers.