Serotonin is a chemical that’s produced by your body. It’s important for nerve cell and brain function.
Serotonin syndrome occurs when there’s too much serotonin in your central nervous system (brain). This can be caused by large doses, or combinations, of medicines that increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. It’s not common but it is a serious side effect you need to be aware of.
There are several medicines that increase serotonin levels, including many antidepressants (see below). Serotonin syndrome can occur when:
- you start one of these medicines or when the dose is increased
- you take 2 or more of these medicines together
- you take too much (an overdose) of these medicines.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can range from mild (shivering and diarrhoea) to severe (muscle rigidity, fever and seizures). Milder forms of serotonin syndrome may go away within a few days of stopping the medicines that caused the symptoms. However, if it’s severe you may need to be admitted to hospital as it can be fatal if it’s not treated.
Serotonin syndrome is a side effect (adverse reaction) of certain medicines or herbal supplements.
The following are examples of medicines and herbal supplements known to increase serotonin levels:
- Antidepressants:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline.
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที as amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, nortriptylin.
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide, tranylcypromine
- serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine
- atypical antidepressants such as mirtazapine.
- Lithium
- Linezolid – an antibiotic used to treat serious infections that are difficult to treat with other antibiotics.
- Opioid analgesics (pain medicines) such as pethidine, fentanyl, tramadol.
- Migraine medication such as sumitriptan, rizatriptan.
- Nausea medication such as ondansetron, granisetron.
- Dextromethorphan – a cough suppressant.
- Herbal products such as St John’s Wort, ginseng, nutmeg
- Recreational drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine.