PMID- 38406216
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
LR  - 20240227
IS  - 1319-1683 (Print)
IS  - 2229-340X (Electronic)
IS  - 1319-1683 (Linking)
VI  - 31
IP  - 1
DP  - 2024 Jan-Mar
TI  - Serotonin syndrome: An often-neglected medical emergency.
PG  - 1-8
LID - 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_236_23 [doi]
AB  - Optimum serotonin level in the serotonergic synapses of the central nervous 
      system (CNS) is related to mood, behavior, and sleep. Serotonin syndrome (SS) is 
      a rare yet very dangerous adverse effect resulting from increased serotonin in 
      CNS. The diagnosis of SS is based on the presence of clinical symptoms, which can 
      include agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated 
      pupils, muscle rigidity, tremors, sweating, and diarrhea. SS is invariably caused 
      by inadvertent use of serotonergic medicines. There is an ever-growing list of 
      medicines that are associated with the risk of SS. Some of the common classes of 
      drugs that can contribute to the development of SS include selective serotonin 
      reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, monoamine 
      oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, stimulants (e.g., amphetamines and 
      cocaine), lithium, opioids, drugs used for recreational purposes like ecstasy 
      Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and some herbal supplements (e.g., St. 
      John's Wort). SS can occur when these medications are taken alone or in 
      combination, especially when a new medication is added, or the dose of an 
      existing medication is changed. The management of SS typically involves 
      discontinuing the use of the substance that caused the excess serotonin levels 
      and providing supportive care, such as intravenous fluids and electrolytes. In 
      severe cases, benzodiazepines may be used to control agitation and muscle 
      rigidity, while serotonin antagonists, such as cyproheptadine, may be used to 
      reduce serotonin levels. The literature review points to a general unawareness 
      among physicians about the condition or drugs associated with it. Consequently, 
      this potentially fatal condition is overlooked. There is a need for regular 
      information updates and reminders to all those who prescribe medications to the 
      patients.
CI  - Copyright: (c) 2024 Journal of Family and Community Medicine.
FAU - Badar, Ahmed
AU  - Badar A
AD  - Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal 
      University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
DEP - 20240108
PL  - India
TA  - J Family Community Med
JT  - Journal of family & community medicine
JID - 100911100
PMC - PMC10883429
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
OT  - serotonin
OT  - serotonin syndrome
COIS- There are no conflicts of interest.
EDAT- 2024/02/26 06:43
MHDA- 2024/02/26 06:44
PMCR- 2024/01/01
CRDT- 2024/02/26 04:54
PHST- 2023/09/01 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2023/11/24 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2023/12/06 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2024/02/26 06:44 [medline]
PHST- 2024/02/26 06:43 [pubmed]
PHST- 2024/02/26 04:54 [entrez]
PHST- 2024/01/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - JFCM-31-1 [pii]
AID - 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_236_23 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Family Community Med. 2024 Jan-Mar;31(1):1-8. doi: 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_236_23. 
      Epub 2024 Jan 8.