Serotonin Syndrome

The serotonin syndrome is a clinical condition associated with serotonin agonists, prescribed to treat some psychiatric and non psychiatric diseases like affective, anxiety and pain disorders. Is due to an excessive stimulation of central and peripheral serotonin receptors that leads to mental, autonomic and neuromuscular changes. Usually the disorder resolves within the first 24 hours after the medications are discontinued, however some patients progress to a multiple organ failure and die. This paper is a theoretical review of the fundamental aspects of the serotonin syndrome, beginning with a brief review of the anatomic and physiologic features of serotonin system, to continue to examine the most relevant historic, diagnosis, clinical and treatment aspects of the syndrome.