FDA Links Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome To Anti-Depressants

Hey guys!

As you all know, I take an anti-depressant and a mood stabilizer so I am definitely not against medication. I have done and continue to do a lot of research on medication though and that is why I have ended my usage with other meds and am on the one’s I am on now. They work for me and they are the one’s I am comfortable with. I do know that these sort of meds do effect all of us differently and a lot of you have had some bad reactions to some.

With that said, I also would like for this site to have as much information about medication as possible and that is why I have added the new category.

I found this post at the blog, furious seasons, which I read frequently and learn a lot from. I wanted to add it over here too. Please go and take a look what he says about it, he also has all the info there.

Here is a little excerpt:

Drugs covered by the change include Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro. Most of the notices only cover brand name versions of the drugs, but one assumes the generic versions will be covered as well. Wellbutrin is not affected by the change.

You can read the FDA’s letter to Eli Lilly, maker of Cymbalta and Prozac, here. You can read the new labeling for Cymbalta here. The letters to other drugmakers are likely the same. On the new label, it states on page 7:

“Serotonin Syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)-like Reactions: The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)-like reactions have been reported with SNRIs and SSRIs alone, including Cymbalta treatment, but particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs (including triptans [migraine medications]) with drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs), or with antipsychotics or other dopamine antagonists. Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Serotonin syndrome, in its most severe form can resemble neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which includes hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, autonomic instability with possible rapid fluctuation of vital signs, and mental status changes. Patients should be monitored for the emergence of serotonin syndrome or NMS-like signs and symptoms.”

You can find the rest here.