Serotonin Syndrome: What Happens If You Have Too Much Serotonin?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of Too Much SerotoninCausesPotential EffectsCan Too Much Serotonin Cause Anxiety?TreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Signs of Too Much Serotonin

Causes

Potential Effects

Can Too Much Serotonin Cause Anxiety?

Treatment

Prevention

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Too muchserotonincan be dangerous and even life-threatening. Certain medications can lead to high levels of serotonin in the body and can trigger a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin Syndrome: Signs of Too Much Serotonin

Serotonin is aneurotransmitterthat helps stabilize mood, is often associated with feelings of happiness, and plays a role in sleep quality, memory, and sexual desire. However, too much serotonin can lead to harmful effects. These effects are known asserotonin syndrome.

Signs of Too Much SerotoninIf you’ve had too much of a serotonin-increasing drug or take more than your prescribed dosage, you may experience symptoms of serotonin toxicity.Signs include:ConfusionIncreased reflexesRestlessnessHallucinationsExtreme agitationFluctuations in blood pressureIncreased heart rateNausea, vomiting, and diarrheaFeverSeizuresComa

If you’ve had too much of a serotonin-increasing drug or take more than your prescribed dosage, you may experience symptoms of serotonin toxicity.Signs include:ConfusionIncreased reflexesRestlessnessHallucinationsExtreme agitationFluctuations in blood pressureIncreased heart rateNausea, vomiting, and diarrheaFeverSeizuresComa

If you’ve had too much of a serotonin-increasing drug or take more than your prescribed dosage, you may experience symptoms of serotonin toxicity.

Signs include:

When Do Signs of Serotonin Syndrome Begin?

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can begin within minutes, a few hours, or up to 24 hours after taking or increasing the dose of a medication.

Most individuals experiencing symptoms of serotonin syndrome will seek emergency treatment within six hours.

If you or a loved one begin experiencing symptoms of serotonin toxicity, call 911 and head to your nearest emergency room immediately.911

If you or a loved one begin experiencing symptoms of serotonin toxicity, call 911 and head to your nearest emergency room immediately.

911

What Causes Serotonin Syndrome?

Substances that may contribute to excess serotonin levels include:

SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, andmonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) are all classes of antidepressant medications that have been known to lead to serotonin syndrome.

Theseantidepressantsare often prescribed to treatdepressionand anxiety disorders, includingpanic disorder.

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Potential Effects of Serotonin Syndrome

If you’ve had too much serotonin, some effects (although rare) may include:

It is possible that drugs containing serotonin can lead to anxiety. For instance, anxiety is a potential side effect ofProzac (fluoxetine).

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Serotonin Syndrome Treatment

Since serotonin syndrome can be potentially life-threatening, emergency medical treatment is necessary. Treatment often begins with the withdrawal of the medications that lead to your high serotonin levels.

However, some complications, such asdelirium, unstable heart rate, high blood pressure, and high temperature may persist longer.

Supportive measures and interventions in a hospital setting may be necessary and include:

Serotonin Syndrome Prevention

To prevent serotonin syndrome, be sure to tell your doctor about all of themedicationsyou are taking prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements.

If you’re taking a medication that impacts serotonin levels, talk to your doctor about your risk of developing serotonin syndrome.

Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Wang RZ, Vashistha V, Kaur S, Houchens NW.Serotonin syndrome: Preventing, recognizing, and treating it.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(11):810-817. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15129National Library of Medicine.Serotonin Syndrome.Frick A, Åhs F, Engman J, et al.Serotonin synthesis and reuptake in social anxiety disorder: A positron emission tomography study.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(8):794. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0125

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Wang RZ, Vashistha V, Kaur S, Houchens NW.Serotonin syndrome: Preventing, recognizing, and treating it.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(11):810-817. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15129National Library of Medicine.Serotonin Syndrome.Frick A, Åhs F, Engman J, et al.Serotonin synthesis and reuptake in social anxiety disorder: A positron emission tomography study.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(8):794. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0125

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Wang RZ, Vashistha V, Kaur S, Houchens NW.Serotonin syndrome: Preventing, recognizing, and treating it.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(11):810-817. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15129National Library of Medicine.Serotonin Syndrome.Frick A, Åhs F, Engman J, et al.Serotonin synthesis and reuptake in social anxiety disorder: A positron emission tomography study.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(8):794. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0125

Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.

Wang RZ, Vashistha V, Kaur S, Houchens NW.Serotonin syndrome: Preventing, recognizing, and treating it.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(11):810-817. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.15129

National Library of Medicine.Serotonin Syndrome.

Frick A, Åhs F, Engman J, et al.Serotonin synthesis and reuptake in social anxiety disorder: A positron emission tomography study.JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(8):794. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0125

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