Causes of serotonin syndrome
The use of medications, dietary supplements, and other substances can cause serotonin syndrome.
It might occur if you:
- Combine two serotonin-boosting pharmaceuticals
- Take a medication in excess or if you use an unsuitable or too high dosage of a medication are all examples of inappropriate medication use.
The disease typically develops when you combine two or more prescriptions, illicit substances, or dietary supplements that raise serotonin levels.
For instance, after taking an antidepressant, you might take medicine to treat a migraine. According to a 2017 case study, some prescription drugs, including opioid painkillers, may also raise serotonin levels.
Additional examples of medications and dietary supplements linked to serotonin syndrome are:
Antidepressants
Serotonin syndrome-related antidepressants include:
- SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [1], include Zoloft and Celexa.
- Effexor and other SNRIs, such as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors,
- Nortriptyline and amitriptyline are examples of tricyclic antidepressants.
- Nardil and Marplan are examples of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Triptan-class drugs for migraine
There have been occasional instances of serotonin syndrome following the use of triptans, a type of migraine medicine, along with SSRI or SNRI antidepressants.
These are several triptans as examples:
- Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- naratriptan (Amerge),
- almotriptan (Axert)
Herbal remedies
Serotonin syndrome risk may be raised by some herbal supplements. Examples include:
- Ginseng
- John’s wort [2]
- tryptophan
Illicit drugs
Serotonin syndrome is linked to specific illicit drugs. Among them include:
- amphetamines
- cocaine [3]
- ecstasy (MDMA) [4]
Medicines for the cough and cold
Dextromethorphan-containing over-the-counter medicines for colds and coughs may raise the danger that if you use them along with other medications, you may experience serotonin syndrome.
Example of such drugs are:
- Delsym
- Robitussin DM
Serotonin syndrome can occasionally be brought on by taking too much of a medicine or mixing two drugs that increase serotonin. Someone may be at risk if they use MDMA and an antidepressant.