Serotonin Syndrome After Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy often require pharmacotherapy for symptom management. Serotonin syndrome is a rare clinical entity that can be precipitated by the medications used to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

CASE:

A 35-year-old pregnant individual with a history of hyperemesis gravidarum in an earlier pregnancy requiring prolonged hospitalization presented with nausea and vomiting at 7 weeks of gestation. She was incidentally found to have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection when she was universally screened at the time of admission. She required pharmacotherapy, including prochlorperazine and ondansetron for treatment of nausea as well as sumatriptan for migraine. She developed acute spasticity, autonomic dysfunction, and temperature rise, precipitated by antiemetic therapy, consistent with serotonin syndrome. The syndrome resolved with supportive care and benzodiazepines.

CONCLUSION:

Serotonin syndrome is a serious clinical entity that can be provoked by the pharmacotherapy given to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. This medical emergency requires early recognition and prompt management.

• Authors: Daniel Wiseman, Gordan Samoukovic, Liam Durcan, Isabelle Malhamé
• Journal: Obstetrics and gynecology (Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 140 Issue 4 Pg. 696-699 (10 01 2022) ISSN: 1873-233X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36075069 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiemetics

Topics

• Pregnancy
• Female
• Humans
• Adult
• Serotonin Syndrome (therapy, drug therapy)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Nausea (drug therapy, etiology)
• Vomiting (drug therapy, etiology)
• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum (drug therapy, diagnosis)
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment