Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

700
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
700
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

1.2K
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
1.2K
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance01:23

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance

537
The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
537
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake01:21

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

1.4K
Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
1.4K
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists01:23

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

809
Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
809
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

1.2K
Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
1.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Two fatalities from sodium azide ingestion: delayed enhanced elimination was not effective.

Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2025
Same author

Once, twice, three times a bite victim: recidivism in snake envenomation.

Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2025
Same author

Response to the letter: "Utility of electroencephalography in toxin-induced seizure".

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·2024
Same author

Utility of electroencephalography in toxin-induced seizures.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·2024
Same author

Safe administration of Crotalidae equine immune F(ab')2 antivenom in a patient who suffered anaphylaxis from Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2023
Same author

Hyperammonemia in acetaminophen toxicity.

Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

454

Serotonin toxicity from isolated bupropion overdoses.

Alexander M Sidlak1, Karl O Koivisto2, Ryan T Marino3

  • 1Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|April 15, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Bupropion overdose can cause serotonin toxicity, a condition previously underestimated. This study found a 33% incidence of serotonin toxicity in patients with bupropion-only overdoses, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Keywords:
BupropionHunter Criteriaseizuresserotonin toxicity

More Related Videos

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome
08:49

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Published on: September 23, 2015

9.2K
Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
12:21

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Published on: November 27, 2016

15.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

454
Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome
08:49

Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome

Published on: September 23, 2015

9.2K
Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
12:21

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Published on: November 27, 2016

15.5K

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Bupropion, a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, may also activate serotonin receptors at high doses.
  • Previous studies may underestimate bupropion's role in serotonin toxicity due to co-ingestions.
  • Isolated bupropion overdoses can lead to severe serotonin toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of serotonin toxicity in patients with isolated bupropion overdoses.
  • To identify risk factors associated with bupropion-induced serotonin toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patients with bupropion toxicity from 2015-2017.
  • Exclusion of patients who ingested other serotonergic medications.
  • Retrospective diagnosis of serotonin toxicity using Hunter Criteria.

Main Results:

  • 18 patients ingested bupropion without other serotonergic drugs.
  • 33% incidence of serotonin toxicity in this isolated bupropion overdose group.
  • Higher likelihood of serotonin toxicity in suicide attempts compared to accidental or recreational ingestions.
  • Median bupropion dose was 2,250 mg in patients with serotonin syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of bupropion-induced serotonin toxicity is higher than previously reported.
  • Clinicians must actively monitor for serotonergic toxicity in bupropion overdose cases.
  • Bupropion overdose, especially in suicide attempts, poses a significant risk for serotonin toxicity.