Serotonin toxicity with therapeutic doses of dexamphetamine and venlafaxine

Prior, Felicity H; Isbister, Geoffrey K; Dawson, Andrew H; Whyte, Ian M

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04385.x

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To the Editor: We report two episodes of serotonin toxicity (or serotonin syndrome) caused by drug interaction in one individual chronically treated with dexamphetamine. The interacting drugs were venlafaxine, then later citalopram. We are not aware of any previous reports of serotonin toxicity caused by dexamphetamine in combination with either venlafaxine or any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

1 Hunter Drug Information Service, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Newcastle, NSW.
2 Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, and Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Newcastle, NSW.

Correspondence: gsbite@bigpond.com

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