{"id":19676,"date":"2019-12-03T06:57:03","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T06:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=19676"},"modified":"2021-10-14T02:30:25","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T02:30:25","slug":"14-warning-serotonin-syndrome-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/14-warning-serotonin-syndrome-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Warning Serotonin Syndrome Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A lot of people are familiar with serotonin, but not nearly as many people are aware that there’s a condition called serotonin syndrome that’s diagnosed at a rate of a few thousand people every year \u2013 and could affect you with a range of symptoms that might be related to the medication you take.
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Serotonin syndrome can be treated with a combination of the right medication and immediate treatment and it’s usually easy to diagnose due to the range of medications that can trigger the condition\u2013 but also just as easy to mistake for other health conditions. Mention all of your symptoms to your doctor if you want to make their job of diagnosing the right condition easier, and make sure they know any medications you have started or stopped taking recently. 
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At the first signs of symptoms, signs or family history, make an appointment with your doctor and take note of as many symptoms as you can to report back to your doctor about.
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Here are 14 warning serotonin syndrome symptoms that you should know about. 
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1. A Spike in Temperature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The body creates a fever when it spots any signs of bacteria<\/a>, viruses or other intruders that might enter the body. The body can also sometimes create a fever as the immune system’s response to a variety of different factors that it might imagine as being dangerous even when it’s actually just the body’s own cells.
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Sometimes serotonin syndrome can throw the entire body into haywire, and one of the first ways in which this manifests is with a sudden spike in temperature to far above what’s normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Any signs of an uncontrollable fever that doesn’t subside with conventional paracetamol treatment is enough to mean you might need an emergency room visit. Untreated fevers can put too much strain on the organs and heart, leading to an increased risk of associated issues like heart failure or heart attacks.
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Remember to take special care in the elderly and children who might not be able to voice their symptoms.
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2. Sweating<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Excessive sweating is one of the first symptoms that can be associated with most diagnosed cases of serotonin syndrome, and the onset of this symptom will typically happen at least a day or two after someone has been given the added dose of serotonin their body isn’t supposed to have (and isn’t able to subsequently process in the right way). 
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If you notice that you’re sweating <\/a>too much and you have a racing heartbeat, seek immediate medical attention.\u00a0
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Depending on the severity of the symptoms,  it can be one of the signs that point towards serotonin syndrome, but it can also point towards a vast variety of other medical emergencies that includes a heart attack and panic attack. 
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See your doctor be sure what’s causing your specific range of symptoms.
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3. Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhea is always a sign that the body isn’t happy about something, although there are far more possible causes for diarrhea than could be listed in any one article. As a general medical symptom, it always indicates that there’s something that needs to be examined further, whether that’s an internal parasite or something like serotonin syndrome instead. 
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Diarrhea <\/a>is a potentially dangerous medical symptom that can be associated with further symptoms like fast dehydration and organ failure. Sometimes it might be associated with temporary conditions like food poisoning, but many other times it can be more dangerous conditions behind them that warrant immediate medical attention.
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If you develop sudden and uncontrollable diarrhea that conventional over-the-counter treatments can put a stop to, visit the emergency room as soon as possible.
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4. Generalized Stomach Upset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Generalized stomach upsets can sometimes be due to dietary factors, bacterial elements or sometimes just because of simple stress<\/a>. If you experience stomach upset that comes and goes, it could be that it’s nothing serious \u2013 but if there are other symptoms that you can associate with the same thing, get to your doctor or go to the emergency room depending on the severity of the symptoms you feel right now.\u00a0
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If you’re able to combine any signs of general stomach upset together with other symptoms that appear on this list, see your doctor. The more symptoms you’re able to combine at any one time, the more likely it could be that it’s caused by serotonin syndrome \u2013 and this is even more true where it can be tied to having taken any of the medications that cause it. 
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In other cases, chronic stomach upsets can also point towards other chronic stomach conditions.
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5. Nervousness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin syndrome can affect the body and brain at an equal rate, and one of the first ways in which the early stages of serotonin syndrome might start to show is with a feeling of general agitation and nervousness for the patient. If you are feeling nervous or unsettled, don’t immediately jump to conclusions and assume that something ominous might be about to happen: Sometimes the cause of this nervous feeling is temporary and physical.
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If you can combine nervousness with any of the symptoms that are mentioned on this list, you can consider serotonin syndrome a likely cause \u2013 particularly if any medications that are known to trigger serotonin syndrome was taken a few hours to one day before the onset of the symptoms.
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Seek medical attention in order to treat the nervousness and other symptoms associated with serotonin <\/a>syndrome.
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6. Irritation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nervousness isn’t the only neurological-related way in which serotonin syndrome can show itself. Anyone suffering from serotonin syndrome might also become agitated and irritable around the same time they ingested the medication \u2013 or these symptoms might only start to show a day or so after the medication has been taken. 
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If you notice that you’re getting more irritable or someone else mentions it to you first, consider the fact that it might not be an entirely emotional thing but that it might also have an underlying physical cause. 
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Irritation is commonly seen in cases of serotonin syndrome, and the symptom should go away at more or less the same time that the rest of the symptoms do: But this can only happen if the condition was properly diagnosed and treated at the right time. 
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Sometimes irritation <\/a>can be due to other emotional or physical factors, but these are likely to have an entirely different range of associated symptoms.
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7. Sweating Excessively<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first symptoms of serotonin syndrome can cause the heart rate<\/a> and breathing to skyrocket and this can send the rest of the body into immediate overdrive. This can overwhelm the rest of the body and put the heart under more strain than it’s supposed to be \u2013 and this, in turn, causes a range of other physical symptoms that can include flushing and excessive sweating.
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Excessive sweating is mentioned as a separate symptom to generalized increased sweating: This is because there’s a definite difference between the two, and increased sweating as a symptom stands entirely separate from excessive sweating as a symptom.
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Increased sweating can happen at the beginning stages of serotonin syndrome, but excessive sweating to the point where it rapidly dehydrates the body is more likely to happen later during the more advanced stages of the condition.
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If you experience any sweating that you consider abnormal even if it’s not related to any other symptoms on this list, see your doctor.
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8. Dilated pupils<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Severely and suddenly dilated pupils <\/a>are sometimes taken to be a sign of drug intoxication and it’s true that many different types of drugs can cause this as a side-effect both legal and illegal, but it’s also true that dilated pupils can also sometimes point to a whole range of other physical conditions including serotonin syndrome or a concussion.
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If you experience dilated pupils together with any of the other symptoms you see on this list, see your doctor. It’s likely to happen together with some of the other symptoms mentioned on this list where it’s because of serotonin syndrome \u2013 and seeing your doctor is the only way to be sure. 
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Dilated pupils can often be associated with light sensitivity too. Remember to wear sunglasses on the way to the doctor or risk a massive subsequent headache. The symptom should go away when the main condition is treated with the right medication.
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9. Discomfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety and nervousness are just some of the first symptoms that you might experience if you’ve contracted serotonin syndrome.  It might also be some symptoms that you don’t experience at all. 
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Where anxiety <\/a>and nervousness are not part of the symptoms experienced, another one such as discomfort is more likely to have taken its place. If you notice generalized discomfort and a spike in temperature together with some of the other symptoms that are mentioned in this article, it could be connected to serotonin syndrome.\u00a0
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If you’ve been prescribed any new medications lately (either by your doctor or by a clinician at a hospital or clinic) make another appointment with your doctor to discuss the symptoms you’ve been showing or seek immediate medical attention.
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Serotonin syndrome is a very serious medical emergency in most cases that might require a trip to the emergency room instead. Remember to mention to the attending medical staff which medications you have or haven’t been taking.
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10. Muscle Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Muscle pain is a very common symptom that can be associated with the body taking more strain than it should, and it can commonly show up after bouts of intense exercise or periods of fever where the muscles are forced into sudden tension \u2013 and you’re very likely to experience this symptom a few hours after the initial ones of serotonin syndrome have kicked in. You’re also likely to experience some of these symptoms afterward.
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Muscle pain is easy to treat, but where it’s part of serotonin syndrome, the syndrome itself needs to be most urgently treated first before any of the after-effects or accompanying leftover symptoms are taken care of. 
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Obvious solutions for muscle tension and pain can help to relieve the tension you might feel after serotonin syndrome. Try taking a hot bath or use essential oils<\/a> and massage creams to add to the effect and lessen the discomfort and pain that you might feel.
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11. Depression<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several different symptoms that might stick around after a bout of serotonin syndrome \u2013 and you might experience some of these symptoms even after the condition itself has been treated for a few days to weeks after this. 
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Depression <\/a>is one of the possible symptoms that you might experience in this way.\u00a0
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Serotonin is one of the compounds in the body that helps to regulate things like mood: When your serotonin is out of balance, the rest of your body will be subsequently affected by the condition \u2013 and it can be for a long time. 
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Sometimes clinical depression leads to serotonin imbalances: This is what makes many people take the medication that can sometimes cause serotonin syndrome in the first place, although symptoms like this shouldn’t take place where drugs have been properly prescribed.
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12. Heightened reflexes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin is one of the body’s most important natural chemicals<\/a>, and one of the things that can be associated with a serotonin overload is heightened reflexes that often go together with the nervousness that can be associated with a serotonin overload episode.\u00a0
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Heightened reflexes might sound a little like a superpower, but there’s nothing special about it. All it means is that the patient is likely to experience a heightened response to certain stimuli such as light \u2013 and in the context of serotonin syndrome it can be one of the most unpleasant symptoms because it can lead to total sensory overload. 
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Go to the emergency room if you experience any symptoms of serotonin syndrome; it’s best treated immediately and the symptoms can go away shortly after the condition has been treated with the use of the proper medication.
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Sometimes you might or might not experience some accompanying symptoms mentioned on this list. 
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13. Muscle Damage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin syndrome can send the body into complete haywire, and it can tense up the muscles to a considerable degree: Together with some of the other symptoms, muscle tension <\/a>and pain are some of the most common symptoms that you can associate with serotonin syndrome \u2013 but these symptoms can be so severe that they almost immediately trigger other symptoms after.
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One of the symptoms that can be caused as a result of serotonin syndrome is muscle damage. This might only become apparent after the first signs of serotonin syndrome has appeared and the condition was treated \u2013 but the muscle damage associated with serotonin syndrome can be serious and affect you for life. 
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See your doctor if you experience any symptoms on this list \u2013 and even if you only experience several. Starting early treatment for a condition like serotonin syndrome can be what saves your life so always seek immediate treatment.
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14. Seizures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin syndrome can send the entire body into haywire. It can also affect both the body in the brain in many different ways with some of the symptoms that have been mentioned on this list so far. There are also other consequences that might be associated with serotonin syndrome, especially where it doesn’t receive treatment within fast enough from the onset of the symptoms. 
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In some cases, serotonin syndrome can trigger seizures and it might do so even if you don’t have a history of seizures or epilepsy. If you experience any of the related symptoms associated with serotonin syndrome, seek medical attention immediately and get straight to the emergency room. 
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Seizures <\/a>can make an existing condition even more dangerous than it already is, and seizures can even increase your risk of falling and getting hurt as a result. They’re always serious, and they always warrant immediate medical attention from a professional.
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