TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Serotonin syndrome after a massive overdose of controlled-release paroxetine
JO  - Psychosomatics
A1  - Muzyk, A.J.
A1  - Jakel, R.J.
A1  - Preud'homme, X.
SP  - 437
EP  - 442
VL  - 51
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Serotonin syndrome is a condition resulting from an overabundance of serotonin at postsynaptic receptors. The syndrome usually responds to cyproheptadine and benzodiazepines. However, some patients do not respond to conventional treatment. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The authors report on the history and management of a patient, a 55-year-old man, who had taken a massive overdose of paroxetine, controlled-release. <br><br>METHOD: The authors present a case report of history and treatment. Paroxetine levels were measured on Days 3 and 7 after admission, with rising values of the drug. The patient received a course of cyproheptadine and lorazepam, to which he was unresponsive, and he was transferred to the Medical Intensive Care Unit for heavy sedation. <br><br>RESULTS: The patient had initially presented with minor symptoms of serotonin syndrome, but these quickly progressed in severity, and he eventually died from resulting complications: a pulmonary embolism 9 days after admission, despite appropriate prophylaxis with enoxaparin. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The authors are the first to report on a paroxetine overdose of this magnitude, and they provide one of the few reports on a prolonged course of serotonin syndrome that was unresponsive to standard treatment. © 2010 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0033-3182
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.51.5.437
ID  - ref1
ER  -