What is serotonin syndrome — and is it common or dangerous?
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 in the brain 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. Problems can also occur if you combine the older depression medications (known as MAOIs) with SSRIs. Finally, recreational drugs such as ecstasy or LSD have also been linked to serotonin syndrome. Symptoms can occur within minutes to hours and generally include restlessness, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, increased body tem
