Serotonin syndrome after challenge with the 5-HT agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine

meta-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) is a non-selective 5-HT-receptor agonist/antagonist that is used extensively in psychiatry to assess central serotonergic function. We report on three patients who developed symptoms of the serotonin syndrome when they participated in an mCPP (0.5 mg/kg body weight p.o.) challenge test as part of a research protocol. They had relatively high plasma mCPP concentrations. The syndrome did not occur in normal volunteers who had comparable plasma concentrations of mCPP. Investigators should be aware of the possible occurrence of the serotonin syndrome after a single oral dose of mCPP.