HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Serotonin syndrome
Mate taiaki aurongo
Important
Serotonin syndrome can be fatal. Seek medical help immediately if you think you, or someone else, may have serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin is a chemical found in your brain. Many antidepressants (and some other medicines) increase the amount of serotonin in your brain.
Combining antidepressants with illegal drugs or other medicines that also increase serotonin, can cause serotonin syndrome (or serotonin toxicity). Serotonin syndrome is a serious reaction that can cause symptoms such as headaches, confusion, hallucinations, nausea, diarrhoea and shaking.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- NHS – Side effects of SSRIs
This page includes a section explaining serotonin syndrome and its symptoms. It also advises what to do if you believe you or someone else is experiencing serotonin syndrome. The phone numbers on the page relate to the United Kingdom, not to New Zealand. The emergency phone number in New Zealand is 111.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.
Review key: HISSY-133150
