Bromides
Bromide was once used as a sedative and an effective anticonvulsant, and until 1975 it was a major ingredient in over-the-counter products such as Bromo-Seltzer and Dr. Miles’ Nervine. Bromides are still used to treat epilepsy in dogs. Bromism (chronic bromide intoxication) was once common, accounting for as many as 5–10% of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Bromism is now rare, but cases continue to be reported worldwide owing to bromide-based medications. Recent examples include the following: Cordial de Monell, a teething/colic medication recalled because of infant bromism (United States); pipobroman/Vercyte/Amedel, an alkylating agent used for polycythemia vera (UK); and bromovaleryurea/bromisoval, used as an analgesic (Taiwan). Bromide is still found in photographic chemicals, in some well water, in bromide-containing hydrocarbons (eg, methyl bromide, ethylene dibromide, halothane), and in some soft drinks containing brominated vegetable oil. Foods fumigated with methyl bromide may contain some residual bromide, but the amounts are too small to cause bromide toxicity.
Mechanism of toxicity
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