Diagnosis

No single test can confirm a serotonin syndrome diagnosis. Your doctor will diagnose the condition by ruling out other possibilities.

Your doctor will likely begin by asking about your symptoms, medical history and any medications you're taking. Your doctor will also conduct a physical examination.

To make sure your symptoms are caused by serotonin syndrome and not due to another cause, your doctor may use tests to:

• Measure levels of any drugs you're using
• Check for signs of infection
• Check body functions that may be affected by serotonin syndrome

A number of conditions can cause symptoms similar to those of serotonin syndrome. Minor symptoms can be caused by several conditions, while moderate and severe symptoms similar to those of serotonin syndrome could be caused by:

• A serious reaction to certain medications, such as some anesthetics, antipsychotic drugs and other agents known to produce these severe reactions
• An overdose of illegal drugs, antidepressant medications or other medications that increase serotonin levels
• Damage associated with illegal drug use
• Severe alcohol withdrawal

Your doctor may order additional tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms. Tests may include:

• Blood and urine tests
• Chest X-ray
• CT scan
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)