60-year-old follows ChatGPT salt diet tips, ends up hospitalised for 3 weeks with hallucinations, acne, and more

A 60-year-old man set out on a simple mission: cut down on table salt. What followed was anything but simple—three weeks of hospital stays, hallucinations, paranoia, and a diagnosis so rare it might not even appear in modern medical textbooks: bromism.

According to a case report published on August 5, 2025, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the man had turned to ChatGPT for a salt substitute. The AI recommended sodium bromide, a chemical more commonly associated with swimming pools than dinner plates. With no prior psychiatric or major medical history, he followed the advice for three months, sourcing sodium bromide online in a bid to eliminate chloride from his meals, inspired by studies he had read on sodium intake and health risks.

By the time he arrived at the hospital, his mind was in full revolt: He claimed his neighbor was poisoning him. Lab tests revealed abnormal electrolyte levels, including hyperchloremia and a negative anion gap, raising suspicions of bromism. Over the next 24 hours, his condition spiraled—auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia, facial acne, fatigue, and unquenchable thirst—all classic signs of bromide toxicity.

Once common in the 1800s and early 1900s, bromide salts were prescribed for headaches and anxiety, even accounting for 8% of psychiatric hospital admissions. After the US Food and Drug Administration phased out bromide products between 1975 and 1989, cases like this became almost extinct. Bromide accumulates in the body over time, triggering neurological, dermatological, and psychiatric symptoms. In this patient, levels reached a staggering 1,700 mg/L—200 times the upper safe limit. Alarmingly, the journal noted that other users asking ChatGPT for a salt substitute received the same recommendation, again with no toxicity warning.

Neurological and psychiatric effects: Symptoms can range from irritability, restlessness, and confusion to hallucinations, psychosis, and in severe cases, stupor or coma. Essentially, your brain starts sending mixed signals.

Gastrointestinal effects: Nausea and vomiting can appear quickly, while long-term exposure may lead to loss of appetite or constipation.

Skin effects: Bromide toxicity can show up on the skin as acne-like bumps, red rashes, or cherry-colored spots.

Bromide interferes with neuron membranes, slowing down nerve signaling. With a half-life of 9–12 days, even small daily doses—around 0.5 to 1 gram—can gradually build up to toxic levels. Historically, 'therapeutic' doses of 3–5 grams made bromism all too common.

Thankfully, aggressive fluid therapy and electrolyte correction worked. His mental state stabilised, labs normalised, and after three weeks on antipsychotics, he was discharged, safe and sound.

This bizarre episode is a stark reminder: even well-meaning AI advice can carry unexpected risks. While AI can be a powerful source of information, experts warn that it can also provide unsafe or scientifically inaccurate guidance.