Drug Syndromes

Question 1

Discontinuation Syndrome
Longer or shorter half life
Symptoms
Drugs

How to stop?

Answer 1

Anti-depressants can be difficult to stop. Especially if they have a shorter half life.
Sweating, shakes, agitation, insomnia, nausea and vomit, clonus.
Venlafaxine and paroxetine

Swap with longer half life eg: fluoxetine

Question 2

Serotonin Syndrome
Pathophys
Symptoms

Treatment?

Answer 2

Sudden increase in serotonin in body/brain

Symptoms - Agitation, hypomania, confusion, coma

Shivers, sweats, hyperthermia, tachycardia, nausea/vomit

Hyper-reflexia, tremor.

Supportive fluids, stop medication. If severe expect siezures.

Question 3

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Cause - 
Symptoms - 
Why death happens?
Treatment -

Answer 3

Due to too little dopamine due to excess antagonism.
Symptoms - fever, confusion, muscle rigidity, autonomic dysfunction, sweating
Death due to rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, siezures
A and E emergency, fluid rescuc, reduce basal temperature.