Depression and porphyria: Safe use of fluoxetine in a woman with learning disabilities

Abstract

Many antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs can precipitate life-threatening porphyric crisis in individuals with the underlying condition. However, when people with porphyria develop mental illness, they require treatment in order to maintain their quality of life. For this reason, although the condition is rare, psychiatrists need information regarding the safety profile of psychotropic drugs when used in people with porphyria. This case report describes the safe use of fluoxetine to treat depression in a woman with severe learning disabilities and porphyria, who failed to respond to non-pharmacological approaches.