Risk of extrapyramidal reactions with serotonergic antidepressants

Although antidepressants do not possess direct postsynaptic D2 receptor antagonistic activity, case reports in the literature have provided evidence that antidepressant use, including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), could be associated with an increased risk of extrapyramidal reactions.1, 2, 3 Recognizing the apparent lack of a clear pharmacological basis of an association between antidepressant use and extrapyramidal reactions such as akathisia, dyskinesia, dystonia, and parkinsonism, a recent review focused on documenting evidence of the association for the serotonergic antidepressants.4

Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - October 20, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research