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Extrapyramidal adverse effects associated with sertraline
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|September 2, 1998
Summary
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline may cause extrapyramidal side effects. This case report adds to evidence of sertraline-induced movement disorders, likely via neurotransmitter pathway interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed antidepressants.
- Extrapyramidal adverse effects (EPS) have been documented with some SSRIs, notably fluoxetine and paroxetine.
Observation:
- Recent literature links sertraline, another SSRI, to treatment-emergent EPS.
- A review identified 13 published cases of sertraline-induced EPS, often with confounding factors or limited quantitative data.
- This report details a case of sertraline-associated EPS with quantitative Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) ratings.
Findings:
- The case and literature review suggest sertraline, similar to other SSRIs, can induce significant extrapyramidal side effects.
- These movement disorders are hypothesized to result from interactions between serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways.
Implications:
- This finding highlights the potential for sertraline to cause movement disorders.
- It underscores the clinical relevance of neurotransmitter pathway interactions in antidepressant-induced side effects.
- Clinicians should be vigilant for EPS when prescribing sertraline.