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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffNo single test can confirm a serotonin syndrome diagnosis. Your doctor will diagnose the condition by ruling out other possibilities.
Your doctor will likely begin by asking about your medical history and any medications you're taking. To make sure your symptoms are caused by serotonin syndrome and not something else, your doctor may use tests to:
- Measure levels of any drugs you're using
- Check your thyroid hormone level
- Check body functions that may be affected by serotonin syndrome
A number of conditions can cause symptoms similar to those caused by serotonin syndrome. Minor symptoms can be caused by numerous conditions. Causes of moderate and severe symptoms include:
- Anticholinergic syndrome, malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, serious conditions caused by certain medications
- An overdose of cocaine, amphetamines or an MAOI, a type of drug for depression
- Certain thyroid conditions
- Withdrawal from alcohol or heroin
- Moore DP. Serotonin syndrome. In: Moore DP. Moore & Jefferson: Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia Pa.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113440701-3/0/1243/148.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02911-6..50148-2_1373. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Bilden EF, et al. Antidepressants. In: Marx JA: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia Pa.: Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113410207-5/0/1365/463.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50154-2--cesec45_7826. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Boyer EW, et al. Serotonin syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;352:1112.
- Combined use of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may result in life-threatening serotonin syndrome. US Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Cder/Drug/advisory/SSRI_SS200607.htm. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Zeping H, et al. Herb-drug interactions. Drugs. 2005;65:1239.
- Chyka PA, et al. Dextromethorphan poisoning: An evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. Clinical Toxicology. 2007;45:662.
- Argwal P. Serotonin syndrome. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113440701-3/0/1701/541.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50022-7--subchapter15_11410. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008
