#272 Serotonin Syndrome - Diagnosis, Pathophysiology & Treatment

WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care · Jun 2, 2026 · 33m

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening toxicologic emergency caused by excess serotonergic activity. Early recognition is critical in the emergency department, ICU, inpatient wards, and prehospital settings. In this episode, we review the fundamentals of serotonin syndrome including: • Pathophysiology • Serotonergic medications • Hyperthermia • Clonus and hyperreflexia • Neuromuscular findings • Autonomic instability • Differential diagnosis • Serotonin syndrome vs neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) • ICU and emergency department management • Supportive care strategies •…