Abstract
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal complication of
serotonergic drug therapy. Usually, serotonin syndrome occurs with the
concomitant use of two serotonergic drugs; this case report describes a patient
with a classic presentation of serotonin syndrome induced solely by a
venlafaxine overdose. Emergency physicians need to be aware that the serotonin
syndrome may occur not only with serotonergic drug combinations but also with
overdoses of a single potent serotonergic agent such as venlafaxine.
Author Keywords: venlafaxine;
serotonin; serotonin syndrome;
antidepressants; drug interaction
Index Terms: serotonin syndrome; venlafaxine; antidepressant
agent