Can 1 single drug cause Serotonin Syndrome?

[Siccness909]

I keep reading up on SS and keep seeing "drug interactions" etc. I never see anything about just one drug anyway specifically speaking on methamphetamine use alone, can meth cause SS?

 

[Limitbreaker]

Meth, no, but yes drugs that are very serotoninergic can cause SS if you take too much. In fact, what you're experiencing during MDMA-esque drugs IS serotonin syndrome but the one people are talking about is the unpleasant/too much one.

 

[bronson]

Yes this is possible in most anything that inhibits the reuptake of seratonin. It's most commonly seen in drugs that have this mode of action as well as an euphoric effect. Tramadol jumps to mind as a prime example.

 

[Jackeh]

As far as I know, any drug that acts on serotonin release could cause SS. Some drugs may have multiple properties and act as a reuptake inhibitor which would increase the likelihood of getting it. Drug interactions are just a more common cause of it.

 

[Siccness909]

I'm confused cause I can't find anything on Meth use causing it at all. But doesn't Meth release A LOT of Serotonin?! I don't understand how it wouldn't?

 

[Jackeh]

I'm not sure if it's as far as SS but methamphetamine does cause dopaminergic and serotonergic toxicity as it acts as a reuptake inhibitor too IIRC. Can't check sources easily at the moment, I'm on my phone.

 

[pasha]

Methamphetamine can in some rare cases directly cause serotonin syndrome due its mechanism as an SRA, but generally only in combination with other serotonergic drugs.

Serotonin syndrome following single dose amphetamine:
http://www.omicsonline.org/2161-0495/2161-0495-1-111.pdf

 

[Siccness909]

Not getting off topic but I just noticed the signs and effects of SS and it took me back to this past June where I "ODed" on Meth..I can't explain what it was (OD, Overamp,SS etc) because I was never actually told in the hospital what it was classified as, but basically I went into a really severe psychosis but it ended up being more than that as the hour progressed in the psychosis ..A little overview up this point, I was smoking ALOT of meth (on average <snip> sacks everyday)for a total of 13 days to this point maybe getting around 16 hours of sleep in this binge and no food at all. Obviously serotonin didn't get to replenish due to lack of sleep and food? Anyway back to the 13th day In June. I ended up eating my entire <snip> bag of meth cause of paranoia from psychosis and after 15mins I was severely shaking, teeth were chattering, shivering like cold sweats, I was confused where i was, body temperature was HIGH, heart rate skyrocketed, I couldn't walk, tremor, clenching my chest, dilated pupils, couldn't speak without slurring my words etc.

I've been so curious to this day to find out what happened to me that day. But I had always ruled out SS because I was only doing Meth at the time and nothing else?

SS seems exactly what I experienced now that I really read up on it, all the effects are spot on to mine, aside from SS generally needing 2 drugs to be achieved. I think I could of been one of those rare only Meth cases of SS?

Also, I had no Meth tolerance when I went on this binge.

 

[pasha]

^ Serotonin syndrome, maybe. Overdose, definitely. Cut down on your dosages and binges.