# Coloration Phenomenon of Flunitrazepam on the Tongue of an Elderly Patient: A Case Report

## TL;DR

An elderly dementia patient accidentally ingested flunitrazepam, causing blue tongue discoloration and symptoms like weakness and drowsiness.

## Contribution

Reports a rare case of blue tongue discoloration due to flunitrazepam ingestion in a dementia patient.

## Key findings

- The patient's blue tongue was caused by accidental ingestion of flunitrazepam.
- Dementia patients may lick or ingest medications without realizing it.
- Flunitrazepam can cause visible coloration effects on the tongue.

## Abstract

Patients with dementia may forget to take their oral medications or may accidentally take too much. Furthermore, there are cases where people lick the medicine without recognizing it as a medicine or accidentally ingest it.

An 88-year-old woman with a history of insomnia presented to the hospital, complaining of her weakness and mild loss of consciousness. Although her blood tests, imaging studies, and neurological findings were unremarkable, we noticed that her tongue was blue and determined that she had mistakenly taken flunitrazepam. This accidental ingestion was diagnosed as the cause of the symptoms.

Patients with dementia report that they may take medicine by licking it, and some oral medicines have a coloring effect.