Serotonin syndromeE34.9

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Synonym(s)

serotoninergic syndrome; serotonin syndromes

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

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

EtiopathogenesisThis section has been translated automatically.

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

Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.

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.

TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.

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

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

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

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer