Serotonin syndrome resulting from drug interactions

• DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb123399.x
• Publication Date: 2019-02-28T02:06:00Z
• Authors: Betty S H Chan; Andis Graudins; Ian M Whyte; Andrew H Dawson; George Braitberg; Geoffrey G Duggin
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Serotonin Syndrome; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Adolescent; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Drug Interactions; Female; Serotonin Antagonists; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Aged

We describe six patients diagnosed with serotonin syndrome after exposure to drugs with serotonergic activity. Drug interactions occurred as a result of a combination of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Management included supportive care and the use of non-specific serotonin antagonists (cyproheptadine, benzodiazepines and chlorpromazine). All patients made uneventful recoveries.