Side effects to watch for (see anti-cholinergic section):
Table. Differentiation of Serotonin Syndrome From Similarly Presenting Conditions
Clinical Feature | Serotonin Syndrome | Anticholinergic Toxidrome | Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome | Malignant Hyperthermia |
---|---|---|---|---|
Medication history | Serotoninergic drug | Anticholinergic agent | Dopamine agonist | Inhalational anesthetic |
Average onset time | < 12 h | < 12 h | 1-3 d | 0.5-24 h |
Vital signs | Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever (>105.8 °F [41 °C]) | Hypertension, tachypnea, tachycardia, fever (<102.2 °F [39 °C]) | Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever (>105.8 °F [41 °C]) | Hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, hyperthermia |
Pupils | Mydriasis | Mydriasis | Normal | Normal |
Bowel sounds | Hyperactive | Decreased or absent | Normal or decreased | Decreased |
Tone | Increased in lower extremities | Normal | “Lead-pipe” rigidity in all muscle groups | Rigor mortis–like rigidity |
Reflexes | Hyperreflexia clonus | Normal | Bradyreflexia | Hyporeflexia |
Mental status | Agitation, coma | Agitation, delirium | Stupor, alert, mutism, coma | Agitation |
Adapted from Boyer EW, Shannon M. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1112-1120. |
General Common side effects of anticholinergic include:
This calculator was created by using a combination of the German Anticholinergic Burden Score and the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale.
O’Dwyer M, Maidment ID, Bennett K, et al. Association of anticholinergic burden with adverse effects in older people with intellectual disabilities: an observational cross-sectional study. Br J Psychiatry. 2016;209:504–10. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.173971
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