What is serotonin syndrome and how common is it?
SSRI antidepressants are generally considered safe; however, a rare side effect of SSRIs is serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a condition that occurs when levels of this neurochemical rise too high. It happens most often when two or more drugs that affect serotonin levels are used simultaneously. For example, if you are taking a category of migraine medicines called triptans, at the same time you are taking an SSRI drug for depression, the end result can be a serotonin overload. The same can occur when you take SSRI supplements, such as St. John’s wort. Problems are most likely to occur when you first start a medication or increase the dosage. Your can learn more about serotonin syndrome here.
