Serotonin syndrome - Altmeyers Encyclopedia

Synonym(s)

serotoninergic syndrome; serotonin syndromes

Disease caused by an excess of serotonin in the brain, which is usually triggered by medication.

Mainly triggered by combinations of drugs that inhibit the breakdown of serotonin (e.g. MAO inhibitors, SSRI).

Allergology

Primary, largely standardised test for the diagnosis of a late allergic reaction of the eczema type (see be...

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Symptoms of serotonin syndrome:

Autonomic vegetative symptoms: e.g. pulse rate increase, sweating, nausea, diarrhoea, rapid breathing, headache, pupil dilation.
Symptoms of central nervous excitation: e.g. restlessness, hallucinations, disturbances of consciousness, coordination disorders.
Neuromuscular symptoms: e.g. cramps, seizures, increased reflexes, tremor.

The therapy is purely symptomatic. A specific antidote is not known yet.

Jimenez-Genchi A (2006) Immediate switching from moclobemide to duloxetine may induce serotonin syndrome. J Clin Psychiatry 67: 1821-1822
Steinberg M et al (2007) Mild serotonin syndrome associated with concurrent linezolid and fluoxetine. At J Health Syst Pharm 64: 59-62