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Minerva Anestesiologica 2008 January-February;74(1-2):41-5

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Serotonin syndrome caused by olanzapine and clomipramine

Verre M., Bossio F., Mammone A., Piccirillo M., Tancioni F., Tortorella V., Varano M.

Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy

We describe a case of severe serotonin syndrome. The patient was simultaneously taking the atypical antidepressant olanzapine and a tricyclical antidepressant, clomipramine. Symptoms included altered mental state resulting in coma, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, diaphoresis, diarrhoea, disorientation and fever. After suspension of antidepressant drugs, intensive symptomatic treatment and administration of biperiden and cyproheptadine, the patient’s condition improved.