Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2026

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

Sertraline intoxication in a child

C A Kaminski1, M S Robbins, R E Weibley

  • 1Department of Pharmacotherapy and Research, Tampa General Hospital, Florida.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|June 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Accidental ingestion of sertraline, an antidepressant, caused severe toxicity in a child. Symptoms included tachycardia, hypertension, hallucinations, coma, and hyperthermia, indicating a potential for serotonin syndrome.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.
  • Previous research suggested low toxicity for sertraline.

Observation:

  • A child experienced severe intoxication following accidental sertraline ingestion.
  • The patient presented with tachycardia, hypertension, hallucinations, coma, hyperthermia, tremors, and skin flushing.

Findings:

  • The clinical presentation was consistent with serotonin syndrome.
  • Severe adverse effects were observed despite prior suggestions of low toxicity.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider serotonin syndrome in cases of accidental antidepressant ingestion.
  • This case highlights the potential for severe toxicity with sertraline, even in pediatric accidental overdose scenarios.

More Related Videos

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model07:06

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model

Published on: June 12, 2018

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance01:23

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

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...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...