[Serotonin syndrome caused by tandospirone citrate alone]

We describe a case of serotonin syndrome provoked by tandospirone citrate alone, a serotonergic antianxiety agent. A 42-year-old alcoholic woman started to take tandospirone (30 mg/day in 3 divided doses) because of psychosomatic complaints. One month later, dellirium, marked rigidity and myoclonus in the neck and extremities, fever, hyperhidrosis and diarrhoea developed in succession. Tandospirone was discontinued, and all symptoms disappeared within the following 6 days. We diagnosed her condition as serotonin syndrome, although alcoholic withdrawal syndrome might have superimposed. Serotonin syndrome caused by tandospirone alone has not been reported, although it is widely used in Japan.