title: Myoclonus secondary to the concurrent use of trazodone and fluoxetine.
abstract: A 39-y-o male with a history of human immunodeficiency virus infection and depression was admitted for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia infections. Prior to admission, he was on 50 mg trazodone every evening for 2 mo for depression. He was admitted with a 2-w history of fever chills and fatigue and on admission had hand tremors which disappeared at rest. Four days post-admission the trazodone dose was increased to 100 mg and 20 mg fluoxetine was initiated. He became increasingly anxious and his hand tremor worsened 3 d after initiation of the regimen. To rule out drug induced tremor, both trazodone and fluoxetine were discontinued and symptoms resolved in 7 d. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for excessive seratonergic activities secondary to trazodone + fluoxetine interactions causing a worsening myoclonus adverse event.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, University Hospital, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Darko
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guharoy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pappas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone