Why the study?
Does concurrent administration of methylene blue and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor cause serotonin syndrome?
Does concurrent administration of methylene blue and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor cause serotonin syndrome?
Concurrent administration of methylene blue and SSRIs can precipitate serotonin syndrome due to methylene blue's monoamine oxidase inhibitor activity.
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Warrants vigilance for serotonin syndrome with methylene blue in SSRI users; leaves open need for prospective studies to quantify risk.
This case report describes the precipitation of serotonin syndrome in a patient taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, by infusion of methylene blue dye during a parathyroidectomy procedure. Methylene blue acts as a monamine oxidase inhibitor, thus increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. The authors describe the diagnosis and management of serotonin syndrome and suggest that more caution be exercised in the use of methylene blue.
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Johnson et al. (2012) studied this question.
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