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Is It Safe To Take Omega-3 Softgels During Serotonin Syndrome?

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Posted on Mon, 27 May 2013
Question: Hi is it ok to take Omega-3 softgels during serotonin syndrome? is it true that they can worsen serotonin syndrome? thanks cheers bye. i'm asking this for someone else.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (39 minutes later)
Hello
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Omega 3 fatty acids are important dietary supplements that are useful in depression and a number of other psychiatric disorders. They have shown proven results in a number of studies on the patients of depression.
The exact mechanism of action is not known but they tend to improve nerve transmission and also tend to improve serotonergic transmission. They are considered as safe drugs and can be prescribed without any problem. But few case reports observed that they may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome in susceptible persons so its better to avoid these supplements during serotonin syndrome.

So I would advise you to please don't give Omega 3 Soft Gels during Serotonin Syndrome. But patient can continue to take dietary omega 3 fatty acids once she become stable.

Diets XXXXXXX in Omega 3 fatty acids are-

Fish oils as sardine, salmon, herring etc.
Nuts as walnuts
Lineseed oil, flax seeds etc.

Hope I cleared your doubt, if you have more questions you can ask again in follow up.

Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
can sudden discontinuation of antidepressants such as Effexor casue electric charge sensations? thanks bye.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (11 minutes later)
Hello again

Yes sudden discontinuation of Venlafexine will result in withdrawal syndrome. It is advised that dose of Venlafexine should be tapered over 6-8 weeks. 10-20% decrease in dose is advised per week to prevent withdrawal syndrome. Withdrawal syndrome may present as irritability, muscle aches, dizziness, nausea, restlessness, electric sensations like symptoms etc symptoms. So if she is taking this drug then please don't discontinue abruptly.

Hope it helps you, if you have more questions you can ask again.

Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (13 minutes later)
and these electric charges that might appear after suddenly discontinuing the Effexor can be felt pretty much everywhere in the body or just in the head and the neck?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (9 hours later)
Hello again

No usually they will appear in head and neck only. Whole body shakiness or electrical charges are not seen.

If you have more questions you can ask again.

Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
she's got neck pain and feels the electric shocks pretty much everywhere in her body.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (37 minutes later)
Hello again

Such symptoms may occur if associated Vitamin deficiencies are there. Get her Vitamin B12 levels checked, if it comes below 300 then start B12 supplements.
For relief of her symptoms you can give her low dose Benzodiazepine drugs as clonazepam on SOS basis. Only 0.25 mg doses will help. In most of cases such symptoms are part of anxiety and restlessness.

If you have more queries you can ask again.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (9 hours later)
she was on 150mg Effexor and 30 mg remeron, and 54 mg concerta and the Effexor and remeron and the decreased her Effexor by 75mg suddenly and about 20 days later she developed neck discomfort, she had the electric shocks before her Effexor was lowered and at this point I don't if these are caused by too much serotonin or suddenly decreasing her dose of Effexor by 75 mg. thanks and cheers.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 minutes later)
Hello again

As you have mentioned that she developed symptoms 20 days after she decreased the dose of Venlafexine to 75 mg per day. She is also taking Mirtazepine and methylphenidate.
Venlafexine is a drug with short half life and it is very uncommon to have withdrawal syndrome 20 days after decreasing the dose. Also as dose has increased and she is not taking any other drug with adverse reaction so chances of Serotonin syndrome are also rare.

Now what is causing these symptoms?
One thing I have already mentioned that low supplements in her prescription.

You can give Omega 3 Fatty acids XXXXXXX food also. Along with these give Vitamin E capsules also, they will help in improving the symptoms.

Third get her Thyroid function test done. Hypothyroidism is important cause of anxiety, depression and somatic symptoms.

Hope it helps you, if you have more questions you can ask again. If you are satisfied with conversation then you can review me.

Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (52 minutes later)
she's is still very distractible. I can see that eventhough it's been like a month that her dose of Effexor has been lowered but I don't know if these electric shock sensations and the neck discomfort has anything with suddenly lowering her Effexor by 75mg. ok i'll have her check her thyroid.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (32 minutes later)
Hello again

Lowering the dose of drug has nothing to do with these symptoms and also they are not due to serotonin syndrome but they might be due to anxiety itself. Get her thyroid levels checked (especially TSH levels) and start giving her Vitamin B12 tablets. Wishing her a good health.

Thanks
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Is It Safe To Take Omega-3 Softgels During Serotonin Syndrome?

Hello
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Omega 3 fatty acids are important dietary supplements that are useful in depression and a number of other psychiatric disorders. They have shown proven results in a number of studies on the patients of depression.
The exact mechanism of action is not known but they tend to improve nerve transmission and also tend to improve serotonergic transmission. They are considered as safe drugs and can be prescribed without any problem. But few case reports observed that they may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome in susceptible persons so its better to avoid these supplements during serotonin syndrome.

So I would advise you to please don't give Omega 3 Soft Gels during Serotonin Syndrome. But patient can continue to take dietary omega 3 fatty acids once she become stable.

Diets XXXXXXX in Omega 3 fatty acids are-

Fish oils as sardine, salmon, herring etc.
Nuts as walnuts
Lineseed oil, flax seeds etc.

Hope I cleared your doubt, if you have more questions you can ask again in follow up.

Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD