Estimating the Risk for Serotonin Syndrome with Triptan and SSRI or SNRI Coprescription

Both migraine headaches and depression are common disorders, and they co-occur frequently. Because the triptan class of medications often is used to abort acute migraines, patients who use triptans may also be taking either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). However, in 2006, the FDA issued a warning highlighting the risk for serotonin syndrome with such coprescription. To estimate the rate of serotonin syndrome associated with coprescription, researchers examined a large cohort of patients in a data registry who had been prescribed both triptans and SSRIs or SNRIs from 2001 through 2014.

Of 19,017 patients with coprescriptions (30,928 person-years of exposure), Internatio…