Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience  2017;15(3):292-295

doi:10.9758/cpn.2017.15.3.292

Codeine Precipitating Serotonin Syndrome in a Patient in Therapy with Antidepressant and Triptan.

Giulia MILANO 1 ; Werner Maria NATTA ; Alfredo BELLO ; Antonietta MARTELLI ; Francesca MATTIOLI

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Drug-drug interactions; Codeine; Serotonin syndrome; Prescription drug misuse; Migraine disorders; Major depressive disorder

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

The serotonin syndrome is a serioius medical condition due due to an intensive stimulation of setonin receptors. It is a rare, but severe, consequence of interaction between serotomimetic agents. This is a report of a 70-year-old woman steadily in therapy with venlafaxine and rizatriptan for migraine and major depressive syndrome. She was admitted to neurology unit for decreased light reflex with miotic pupils, global hyperreflexia, tremor, anxiety, ataxia and incoordination. The patient was diagnosed as a probable case of serotonin syndrome due to a pharmacological interaction between venlafaxine and rizatriptan trigged by opioid intake. In this paper, the development of syntomatology, the clinical examination and the possible pharmacokinetics explanation were carefully discussed and analysed.