TY - JOUR T1 - Psychiatric Side Effects of Mefloquine: Applications to Forensic Psychiatry JF - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online JO - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law SP - 224 LP - 235 VL - 41 IS - 2 AU - Elspeth Cameron Ritchie AU - Jerald Block AU - Remington Lee Nevin Y1 - 2013/06/01 UR - http://jaapl.org/content/41/2/224.abstract N2 - Mefloquine (previously marketed in the United States as LariamĀ®) is an antimalarial medication with potent psychotropic potential. Severe psychiatric side effects due to mefloquine intoxication are well documented, including anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, persecutory delusions, dissociative psychosis, and anterograde amnesia. Exposure to the drug has been associated with acts of violence and suicide. In this article, we discuss the history of mefloquine use and describe plausible mechanisms of its psychotropic action. Mefloquine intoxication has not yet been successfully advanced in legal proceedings as a defense or as a mitigating factor, but it appears likely that it eventually will be. Considerations for the application of claims of mefloquine intoxication in forensic settings are discussed. ER -