Postoperative Serotonin Syndrome Triggered by Propofol in a Patient on Chronic Serotonergic Medications and Bupropion: A Case Report

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that is commonly associated with the use of serotonergic agonistic medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), and opioids. In contrast, propofol, a commonly used perioperative induction and intravenous sedation medication, is not frequently reported to cause serotonin syndrome. We present a rare case in a 34-year-old female who developed serotonin syndrome in the postoperative setting after the administration of propofol for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. The patient presented postoperatively with diaphoresis and non-fatigable ocular and extremity clonus, at which time she received benzodiazepines and cyproheptadine after discontinuing the offending agent. The patient successfully recovered from the condition following the administration of these medications.