serotonin syndrome
Drug interaction crisis
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially dangerous condition caused by excessive serotonin activity in the nervous system, typically from drug interactions or overdoses of medications that affect serotonin levels.
Symptoms range from mild (tremor, agitation, diarrhea) to severe (high fever, seizures, muscle rigidity).
It most often occurs when combining antidepressants with other serotonergic drugs: The doctor warned against mixing the SSRI with her migraine medication because of serotonin syndrome risk.
Disturbed, restless state
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
- diaphoresisExcessive bodily moisture production
tachycardia · hypertension · rigidity · clonus · confusion · delirium · hallucinations · seizures
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- SNRIsDual-action antidepressant class
- MAOIsEnzyme inhibitors treating depression
- tricyclicsAntidepressants with three-ringed structure
- tramadolSynthetic opioid analgesic
fentanyl · lithium · St. John's wort · dextromethorphan · MDMA · drug interaction · polypharmacy · overdose
Sedative-hypnotic drug class
- supportive careMedical comfort without cure
- intensive careSpecialized treatment for severe illness
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
activated charcoal · monitoring · hospitalization · antidote · emergency medicine
Doctor assessing patient directly
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
- toxicologyScience of poisons
agitation
Disturbed, restless state
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
diaphoresis · tachycardia · hypertension · rigidity · clonus · confusion · delirium · hallucinations · seizures · shivering
SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- SNRIsDual-action antidepressant class
- MAOIsEnzyme inhibitors treating depression
- tricyclicsAntidepressants with three-ringed structure
tramadol · fentanyl · lithium · St. John's wort · dextromethorphan · MDMA · drug interaction · polypharmacy · overdose · tryptophan
benzodiazepines
Sedative-hypnotic drug class
- supportive careMedical comfort without cure
- intensive careSpecialized treatment for severe illness
- intubationPlacing airway tube
sedation · activated charcoal · monitoring · hospitalization · antidote · emergency medicine
clinical examination
Doctor assessing patient directly
- differential diagnosisSystematic comparison of possible conditions
- toxicologyScience of poisons
- drug reactionsadverse reaction, adverse reactions, side effects, drug allergy, allergic reaction
- Drug Risksadverse reactions, side effects, drug interactions, overdose, toxicity
- SyndromesGuillain-Barre, restless leg, irritable bowel, IBS, chronic fatigue
- pharmacologypharmacology, drugs, pharmacokinetics, dose, drug
- toxicologytoxicology, poison, toxin, venom, toxicity
- serotonin conditionsdepression, anxiety, mood swings
serotonin syndromeserotonin deficiency
Insufficient mood-regulating brain chemical