A 60-year-old man was hospitalized with bromism after replacing table salt with sodium bromide for three months, following advice he said came from ChatGPT. The rare poisoning caused paranoia, hallucinations, and skin changes. Doctors warn AI tools can give inaccurate health guidance and should never replace professional medical advice.
A 60-year-old man was hospitalized after replacing table salt (sodium chloride) with sodium bromide for three months—advice he said came from ChatGPT.
According to a case report in the American College of Physicians Journals, the man developed bromism, a rare condition caused by bromide toxicity. Bromism was more common decades ago when bromide salts were used in certain medicines, but today it’s rarely seen. Symptoms can include paranoia, hallucinations, skin changes, and extreme thirst.
Doctors said the man arrived at the hospital experiencing paranoia, hallucinations, and refusal to drink water. He was treated with fluids and electrolytes before being moved to a psychiatric unit, where his condition gradually improved.
The patient later revealed he had read online—via ChatGPT—that chloride could be swapped with bromide. Inspired by his background in nutrition, he ordered sodium bromide online and replaced all table salt in his diet with it.
After three weeks of treatment, he recovered enough to be discharged.
The report warns that AI tools like ChatGPT can give inaccurate or misleading health advice, stressing that people should always seek professional medical guidance before making dietary or medical changes. OpenAI’s own terms state that ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis.
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