Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine

Introduction. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have been described as a side effect of dopamine agonists, frequently used in neurodegenerative conditions affecting the nigrostriatal pathway. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., duloxetine) have dose-dependent differential affinity for...

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Main Authors: Christopher W. T. Miller, Keith E. Gallagher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Psychiatry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5472492
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author Christopher W. T. Miller
Keith E. Gallagher
author_facet Christopher W. T. Miller
Keith E. Gallagher
author_sort Christopher W. T. Miller
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have been described as a side effect of dopamine agonists, frequently used in neurodegenerative conditions affecting the nigrostriatal pathway. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., duloxetine) have dose-dependent differential affinity for monoaminergic transporters, inhibiting the dopamine transporter at higher doses, thus increasing availability of synaptic dopamine, with the potential for similar impulse control side effects. Case Presentation. A 19-year-old Asian-American female with a history of depression developed new-onset stealing behaviors after an increase in her dose of duloxetine from 60 mg to 90 mg; she described these actions as “compulsive” and irresistible, later experiencing either relief or guilt, features compatible with an ICD. Her symptoms eventually subsided with continued use of 90 mg of duloxetine. Discussion. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first report of a patient developing new-onset ICD behaviors after being placed on a higher dose of duloxetine, which can inhibit the dopamine transporter and cause difficulty with impulse control. The self-resolving nature of the symptoms may result from compensatory upregulation of dopamine transporters, increasing reuptake of dopamine. Asian populations may be at a higher risk due to the frequent occurrence of CYP2D6 polymorphisms, which decrease the conversion of duloxetine to its inactive metabolites.
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spelling doaj-art-ba061dd359df47fba7e2a40f9c5c86052025-08-20T03:23:22ZengWileyCase Reports in Psychiatry2090-682X2090-68382016-01-01201610.1155/2016/54724925472492Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of DuloxetineChristopher W. T. Miller0Keith E. Gallagher1University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USAUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USAIntroduction. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have been described as a side effect of dopamine agonists, frequently used in neurodegenerative conditions affecting the nigrostriatal pathway. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g., duloxetine) have dose-dependent differential affinity for monoaminergic transporters, inhibiting the dopamine transporter at higher doses, thus increasing availability of synaptic dopamine, with the potential for similar impulse control side effects. Case Presentation. A 19-year-old Asian-American female with a history of depression developed new-onset stealing behaviors after an increase in her dose of duloxetine from 60 mg to 90 mg; she described these actions as “compulsive” and irresistible, later experiencing either relief or guilt, features compatible with an ICD. Her symptoms eventually subsided with continued use of 90 mg of duloxetine. Discussion. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first report of a patient developing new-onset ICD behaviors after being placed on a higher dose of duloxetine, which can inhibit the dopamine transporter and cause difficulty with impulse control. The self-resolving nature of the symptoms may result from compensatory upregulation of dopamine transporters, increasing reuptake of dopamine. Asian populations may be at a higher risk due to the frequent occurrence of CYP2D6 polymorphisms, which decrease the conversion of duloxetine to its inactive metabolites.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5472492
spellingShingle Christopher W. T. Miller
Keith E. Gallagher
Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
Case Reports in Psychiatry
title Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
title_full Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
title_fullStr Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
title_full_unstemmed Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
title_short Self-Limited Kleptomania Symptoms as a Side Effect of Duloxetine
title_sort self limited kleptomania symptoms as a side effect of duloxetine
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5472492
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