Quetiapine and citalopram: aetiological significances in serotonin syndrome.

Author(s): Marlowe K, Schirgel D

Affiliation(s): Tower Hamlets Early Intervention Service, Royal London Hospital, St Clement's, 2A Bow Road, Mile End, London E3 4LL, UK. karl.marlowe@elcmht.nhs.uk

Publication date & source: 2006-07-07, N Z Med J., 119(1237):U2058.

Publication type: Case Reports

The use of atypical antipsychotic medication is increasing, with an increase in reported side-effects. The first reported case of quetiapine and citalopram-associated serotonin syndrome is discussed with reference to a Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO literature search. The putative aetiological mechanism is supersensitivity of 5-HT(1A) receptors (quetiapine) within an environment of increased synaptic available serotonin (citalopram). The symptom profile of serotonin syndrome overlaps with neuroleptic malignant syndrome, but can be reliably differentiated using a time and toxicity scale.