The Cause

In Tom’s case, the issue began in 2011 after he started to take antibiotics for a thumb injury. Tom had always been an active, healthy person, but after taking the antibiotics, his demeanor shifted. He started to develop “very uncharacteristic” personality changes and depression…

No One Listened

“He was able to function and it was mainly after meals,” said Dr. Fahad Malik, who co-authored the case study on Tom’s rare syndrome. “No one believed him.” Tom started seeing a psychiatrist to deal with the mental side effects of what he was experiencing.

Professional Help

The psychiatrist prescribed Tom antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication to mitigate the shift in his thoughts and behavior. Not long afterward, Tom was arrested for a DUI when his blood alcohol concentration appeared to be twice the legal limit—high enough for most people to blackout from drinking.