Medical Description

Serotonin syndrome is a drug reaction that causes the body to have too much serotonin, a chemical produced by nerve cells. The reaction can be life-threatening. The condition occurs most often when drugs that affect serotonin levels in the body are taken at the same time, causing the chemical to be released or to remain in the brain.

Nerve cells normally produce serotonin in the brain and spinal cord to help regulate attention, behavior and body temperature. Other nerve cells in the body, like in the intestines, also produce serotonin to regulate the digestive process, blood flow and breathing.

Symptoms

• restlessness
• hallucinations
• loss of coordination
• fast heart beat
• rapid changes in blood pressure
• increased body temperature
• overactive reflexes
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• agitation
• uncoordinated movements (ataxia)
• heavy sweating not due to activity (diaphoresis)
• diarrhea
• overactive reflexes (hyperreflexia)
• fever
• mental status changes such as confusion or hypomania
• muscle spasms (myoclonus)
• shivering
• tremor
• seizures
• coma

General Information

Serotonin syndrome patients may get worse and become severely ill if they are not treated quickly - untreated, the condition could be deadly. But with treatment, symptoms usually disappear in less than 24 hours.

Patients who take serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression should be cautious when taking other medications, including triptan medications, which are used to treat migraines. In July 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated information about SSRI’s to include its association serotonin syndrome, which occurs when SSRI’s are taken at the same time as triptans.

Source: “Serotonin syndrome,” MedlinePlus Encyclopedia, August 1, 2006; “Serotonin syndrome,” MayoClinic, June 22, 2007.

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