Two Cases of Serotonin Syndrome.
- Author:
Yong Tae KWAK
1
;
Il Woo HAN
;
Seong Suk KANG
;
Min Seong KOO
;
Ok Jun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Yong-in Hyoja Geriatric Hospital.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Serotonin Syndrome;
Antidepressants
- MeSH:
Aged;
Antidepressive Agents;
Dihydroergotamine;
Drug Interactions;
Extremities;
Female;
Fluoxetine;
Humans;
Imipramine;
Middle Aged;
Myoclonus;
Serotonin Agents;
Serotonin Syndrome*;
Serotonin*;
Sertraline;
Trazodone;
Tremor
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association
1999;17(4):591-596
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We report 2 cases of serotonin syndrome with variable symptoms after being treated with antidepressants. A 57-year-old woman developed agitation, diaphoresis, and tremor after combination therapy with fluoxetine and trazodone. The second patient, a 76-year-old female woman, became partially disoriented and developed brief, jerky myoclonus of all extremities after discontinuation of sertraline and consecutive imipramine treatment. These two patients rapidly improved with supportive care. The serotonin syndrome is not always easy to diagnose and sometimes causes a serious and fatal event. For this reason, if possible, the practice of multiple serotonergic drugs should be avoided because of the risk for potential serious pharmacodynamic drug interactions. Clinicians should not view the serotonin syndrome as an idiosyncratic reaction, but rather, as a predictable one with a variability in occurrence and severity among patients. Heightened awareness by clinicians will help to minimize pharmacodynamically mediated interactions that may occur between prescribed drugs and, ideally avoid this syndrome.
