The nurse is caring for a client admitted with serotonin syndrome after taking citalopram and tramadol. Which assessment findings does the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.

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11ecbb05_cca6_3d1c_b433_a351fb24c295_MD0009_00 Serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, develops when drugs affecting the body's serotonin levels are administered simultaneously or in overdose. Drugs, which may trigger this reaction, include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), dextromethorphan, ondansetron, St. John's wort, and tramadol. The diagnosis is primarily clinical and based on medication history and clinical findings. Symptoms may include mental status changes (eg, anxiety, agitation, disorientation), autonomic dysregulation (eg, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia/hypertension), and neuromuscular hyperactivity (eg, tremor, muscle rigidity, clonus, hyperreflexia). (Option A) The client experiencing serotonin syndrome would exhibit hyperreflexia. (Option B) The client experiencing serotonin syndrome would exhibit warm moist skin and a fever. Educational objective: Clinical manifestations of serotonin syndrome include mental status changes (eg, anxiety, agitation, disorientation), autonomic dysregulation (eg, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia/hypertension), and neuromuscular hyperactivity (eg, tremor, muscle rigidity, clonus, hyperreflexia).

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Admitted with Serotonin