How Common or Significant Is Serotonin Syndrome?
Posted 11/10/2008 Joel Lamoure, RPh, BSP, FASCP Question We are seeing more patients who are taking multiple antidepressants of different classes. All drug interaction programs cite drug-drug interactions leading to the potentially severe toxicity known as serotonin syndrome. Just how common and clinically significant is serotonin syndrome? Response from Joel Lamoure, RPh, BSP, FASCP Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Mental Health Pharmacist, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada The Toxic Exposure Surveillance System reviewed cases from office-based practices, inpatient settings, and emergency departments and found that during 2004, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) caused significant toxic effects in 8187 persons, leading to 103 deaths.[1] The true incidence of serotonin syndrome and associated morbidity are likely to be much greater. This syndrome may be underdiagnosed given the fact
