Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Aug 12: In a rare medical case published in Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, a man landed in the emergency department with hallucinations, paranoia and other psychiatric symptoms after replacing table salt (sodium chloride) with sodium bromide — a decision reportedly based on ChatGPT’s advice.
The patient, hoping to cut chloride from his diet, substituted sodium bromide for salt in his meals for three months. He later developed severe psychiatric symptoms, along with acne, red skin bumps, muscle coordination issues, fatigue, insomnia, and constant thirst.
Doctors initially faced puzzling lab results showing unusually high chloride levels — a false reading caused by bromide’s interference with standard tests. After consulting Poison Control, physicians diagnosed bromism, or bromide intoxication.
While hospitalised, the man grew paranoid about drinking water, attempted to leave the ward, and was placed under involuntary psychiatric care. He was treated with antipsychotics, fluids, and electrolyte correction, which gradually resolved his symptoms.
Researchers noted the case underscores risks of relying on AI for medical guidance, warning that ChatGPT and similar tools can produce “scientific inaccuracies” and “decontextualized information” without critical discussion. They stressed it was “highly unlikely” that a medical expert would have recommended sodium bromide as a salt substitute.
What is Bromide Intoxication?
Bromide intoxication occurs when excessive bromide — a chemical related to chlorine — builds up in the body. Once common in sedatives, bromide is now rarely used, but can still be found in some imported medications, unlabelled supplements, brominated vegetable oil in soft drinks, or through industrial exposure.
Symptoms range from headaches, confusion and tremors to severe psychiatric effects like hallucinations and psychosis. Diagnosis is often tricky, as bromide can distort lab results, mimicking other electrolyte disorders.
Experts warn that sustained bromide intake can cause gradual buildup, leading to potentially life-threatening neurological effects if not identified and treated promptly.