The dark side of SSRIs

Abstract

The of SSRIs Learn how to recognize medical and surgical complications associated with these commonly used antidepressants.By Theresa J. Inott, RN, MSN selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors F orty-eight hours after undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), PeterAlthouse, 58, develops nausea and intermittent vomiting, followed by chills, dizziness, and tremors. He's anxious and irritable.Concerned that Mr. Althouse is exhibiting signs and symptoms of a serious postoperative complication, you obtain blood specimens and send them to the lab. His complete metabolic profile and complete blood cell count are within normal limits, and additional diagnostic testing rules out a bacterial infection or respiratory complication.Mr. Althouse has no history of alcohol or drug abuse. Two years earlier, however, he'd been prescribed paroxetine for major depressive disorder. Now when you question him further, he says he stopped taking the drug the day before his admission because he was told not to take anything by mouth after midnight. Based on his clinical condition and history of abruptly stopping a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), you suspect that Mr. Althouse is suffering from SSRI discontinuation syndrome.More than 20 million American adults experience some form of a mood disorder. 1 The most common drugs prescribed for these conditions are SSRIs, and many patients who take these medications, like Mr. Althouse, are admitted to medical or surgical settings for other conditions. In this article, I'll describe complications of SSRIs that you might see in a patient like Mr. Althouse, and how to intervene.