Did Internet-purchased diet pills cause serotonin syndrome?

Current Psychiatry. 2008 July;07(07):67-78

July 1, 2008|Current Psychiatry

Kyoung Bin Im, MD;Jess G. Fiedorowicz, MD

Phentermine also may have increased patient’s neuroleptic malignant syndrome risk.

Related resources

Carbone JR. The neuroleptic malignant and serotonin syndromes. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2000;18:317-25.
Gillman PK. The serotonin syndrome and its treatment. J Psychopharmacol 1999;13:100-9.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS). www.nmsis.org. NMS hotline for medical professionals (toll-free 888-667-8367) handles calls on NMS, serotonin syndrome, heat stroke, malignant catatonia, and other drug-induced heat-related disorders.

Promising New Investigator Kyoung Bin Im, MD

This paper was among those entered in the 2007 Promising New Investigators competition sponsored by the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS). The theme of this year’s competition was “New insights on psychotropic drug safety and side effects.”

Current Psychiatry is honored to publish this peer-reviewed, evidence-based article on a clinically important topic for practicing psychiatrists.

Clinical Point

Consider a common treatment strategy if you are unable to differentiate between serotonin syndrome and NMS in your patient

Drug brand names

Acyclovir • Zovirax
Ampicillin • various
Bromocriptine • Parlodel
Ceftriaxone • Rocephin
Chlorpromazine • Thorazine
Cyproheptadine • Periactin
Dantrolene • Dantrium
Diazepam • Valium
Dextroamphetamine • Dexedrine
Fluoxetine • Prozac
Haloperidol • Haldol
Levodopa • various
Methysergide • Sansert
Pentobarbital • Nembutal
Phentermine • various
Phenytoin • Dilantin
Propranolol • Inderal
Vancomycin • various

Disclosure

The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.

References

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