Acute intermittent porphyria

The main symptom of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is severe stomach pain. The pain may be in the back or thighs as well. People with AIP can also have nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, and high blood pressure. There can also be hyponatremia (low sodium levels), seizures, difficulty breathing, and changes in mental status. Mental changes in attacks of acute intermittent porphyria can include insomnia or difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, and amnesia or memory loss. The urine of a person having an attack of AIP may be reddish-brown or red, but this does not happen to everyone. These symptoms may last several days or longer if treatment is not received right away.