What is Serotonin Syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition. This is mainly due to the increased serotonergic activity of the central nervous system often associated with drug combinations. Serotonin syndrome has non-specific symptoms, so it can easily lead to misdiagnosis, such as hypertension, diarrhea, seizures.

Serotonin is an important chemical mediator of the central nervous system. This substance can affect organs such as nervous, cardiovascular, blood, digestive, urinary,... When the concentration of this substance is high in the blood, it can cause Serotonin syndrome, in many cases. Severe cases can be life-threatening.
Serotonin syndrome is the result of a serious drug interaction, when the body produces more serotonin than it needs. This syndrome is described by behaviors such as:
Irritability, trembling limbs Have very sensitive reflexes Difficulty with motor coordination Unsteady walking, muscle twitching, Fever, sweating, Chills and diarrhea These symptoms can affect the patient's daily activities, making the patient uncomfortable. Severe cases can cause autonomic dysfunction and lead to death.

The main cause of Serotonin syndrome is the combination of two or more drugs that cause drug interactions. As a result, Serotonin levels in the body skyrocket.
Certain medications can increase serotonin levels in the body:
Antibiotics Antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS Some antiemetics Pain relievers Medications that can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome if used Improper use:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants: Celexa, Zoloft Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): a class of antidepressants Khedezla cold, desvenlafaxine succinate,... Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Nardil and Marplan Other antidepressants: Wellbutrin (helps control smoking) Migraine medications (triptans): Axert , Amerge, Imitrex Illicit Drugs: LSD, Ecstasy (MDMA), Cocaine, Amphetamine Herbal supplements Some cough medicines contain dextromethorphan: Robitussin DM, Delsym Drugs used to treat anxiety disorders : Buspirone A drug used to treat depression or anxiety Sleep: trazodone In addition, LSD drugs, cocaine, functional foods,... also cause serotonin syndrome when you use them together with antidepressants. However, the FDA has required manufacturers to put warning labels on drugs that can cause the syndrome. It is best before using any medicine you should carefully study the information as well as consult the treating doctor.

Symptoms are different from person to person, they usually appear a few hours after taking a medication that affects your serotonin levels. In addition, the syndrome can also appear after you increase the dose of the drug you are taking.
Some typical symptoms of the disease include:
Bewilderment Excitement Dilated pupils Headache Blood pressure, temperature changes Nausea, vomiting Diarrhea Tachycardia Loss of muscle control or convulsions Sweating Excessive sweating Decreased balance Rapid shallow breathing Serious symptoms that can be life-threatening include: high fever, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, frequent bowel movements. At this time, it is necessary to bring the patient to a medical facility immediately to receive help from the doctor. In addition, the syndrome also occurs in severe diseases: organ failure, rhabdomyolysis, epilepsy, renal failure, respiratory failure.
Complications can appear when left untreated: convulsions, difficulty breathing, kidney failure, coma, death.

Currently, there is no single test technique that can diagnose Serotonin syndrome. Therefore, in order to diagnose the disease, the doctor needs to take the patient's medical history, including:
Use of drugs and functional products Stimulant drugs Health conditions Testing for tetanus and infections Encephalitis is also useful in the diagnosis of Serotonin syndrome.

Your doctor may ask you to stay in the hospital to monitor and treat your symptoms during your recovery. It is essential to remove the drug that causes an increase in Serotonin levels. In severe cases, you can take cyproheptadine to stop your body from producing serotonin.
Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening, but can be easily prevented by eliminating drugs that increase serotonin. In addition, if you know that you are using this drug, you need to monitor your symptoms, if there is any instability, you should immediately notify the treating doctor, especially extreme actions or depression. .
In case of suspected serotonin syndrome, it is necessary to go to a reputable hospital for timely examination and treatment. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment.