title: The serotonin syndrome, triptans, and the potential for drug-drug interactions.
abstract: The serotonin syndrome is an acute adverse reaction to medications that enhance serotonergic activity. The severity of cases ranges from mild to fatal. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert that the risk of developing serotonin syndrome may be increased by the concomitant administration of triptan medications with certain other medications. However, a review of published data does not allow an accurate assessment of such risks related to triptans. We conclude that it is currently unclear whether administration of triptans with other serotonergic medications increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Stewart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tepper
mesh_terms: D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014363:Tryptamines