Key result
A 73-year-old woman on selegiline for parkinsonism developed serotonin syndrome after starting a therapeutic dose of escitalopram.
Why the study?
Does escitalopram precipitate serotonin syndrome in a patient taking selegiline?
Case Report (n=1)
Does escitalopram precipitate serotonin syndrome in a patient taking selegiline?
Therapeutic doses of escitalopram can precipitate serotonin syndrome when used concurrently with other serotonergic drugs like selegiline.
Alerts clinicians to interaction risk with escitalopram plus selegiline; single case leaves causality and frequency open.
Serotonin syndrome is a known entity, which occurs with multiple drugs acting on serotonergic receptors. A 73-year-old lady presented with a history of agitation, altered sensorium, and autonomic hyperactivity after starting escitalopram on therapeutic dosage for her depressive syndrome who was on selegiline for her parkinsonism. This syndrome with therapeutic dose escitalopram warrants the careful and judicious use of the drug especially with other serotonergic drugs, so that this serious medical complication can be avoided.
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Bhattacharyya et al. (2010) conducted a case report in Serotonin syndrome (n=1). Escitalopram was evaluated on Serotonin syndrome (agitation, altered sensorium, and autonomic hyperactivity). A 73-year-old woman on selegiline for parkinsonism developed serotonin syndrome after starting a therapeutic dose of escitalopram.
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