Drug-Induced Serotonin Syndrome.
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal condition caused by drugs that affect serotonin metabolism or act as serotonin receptor agonists. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are the medications most commonly associated with serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome can be mild and of short duration, but a prolonged course, life-threatening complications, and death are possible. Detection of serotonin syndrome is not difficult if the diagnostic criteria are understood and properly used, but the syndrome has no confirmatory tests and other drug-induced syndromes can, to a degree, mimic serotonin syndrome. The treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Antidotal therapies are available, but the evidence for their effectiveness is limited. If serotonin syndrome is promptly identified and aggressively treated, the patient should fully recover.
Dana Bartlett is a certified specialist in poison information. He works at the Connecticut Poison Control Center, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, Connecticut. dana_bartlett@msn.com.
Dana
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Bartlett
D002423:Cause of Death; D016638:Critical Illness; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors