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SSRI toxicity is the same thing as serotonin syndrome which is the body’s reaction to having too much serotonin in the neural synapses of your brain. Serotonin is one of the many neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are how neurons “talk” to each other.
You get serotonin syndrome usually when you take too many drugs that affect serotonin levels.

I do wonder why you experienced this if you were taking your usual dose, unless you were taking other drugs that influence serotonin. These could be other antidepressants, tramadol, codeine, cocaine etc.
Above, Cathy said she experienced it after taking Mucinex DM. “DM” stands for “dextromethorpan” which is a chemical alternative or isomer of codeine. Unlike codeine, it can’t be used for pain, but it will, like codeine, suppress coughs. It isn’t addictive nor does it cause “tolerance” which is where you have to increase the dose of a drug to get the same effect. So if Cathy took the Mucinex DM with other serotonin influencing drugs, that might have caused it. Sensitivities to serotonin probably vary, so a dose that causes symptoms in one person may not affect another person.
The treatment is “supportive”—IV fluids and benzodiazepines for the agitation and tremors. Benzos include drugs like Valium, Xanax, Ativan etc.

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Replies to "SSRI toxicity is the same thing as serotonin syndrome which is the body’s reaction to having..."

@5148branelly
Yes, my dosage was increased from 20 mg to 40 but, in the past, I have occasionally increased dosage or decreased it according to how I felt. I had not taken any other drugs, just my usual vitamins. I think it may be due to my aging that may have caused a metabolism problem with Fluoxetine. I was prescribed Prozac shortly after it arrived on the market, I think it was late 1980’s. That drug probably saved my life and I was able to quit Prozac after time went by. When life’s stresses became difficult I would, upon occasion, return to Prozac. After the death of my husband, I was on Medicare and was prescribed Fluoxetine and have been on it for several years. I am grateful that wonderful antidepressants are on the market, but on occasion things do go awry.