Activation syndrome is a form of stimulation (sometimes suicidal) or agitation that has been observed in association with some
psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance, that changes functions of the nervous system, and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition or behavior. ...
s. A causative role has not been established.
Pfizer
Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...
has denied that
sertraline
Sertraline, sold under the brand name Zoloft among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. The efficacy of sertraline for depression is similar to that of other antidepressants, and the differ ...
can cause such effects.
Treatment
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) have been associated with a state of restlessness, lability, agitation, and anxiety termed "activation syndrome". In some people, this state change can increase suicidal tendencies, especially in those under age 25 and during the initial weeks of treatment. SSRI-induced activation syndrome is well-accepted by clinicians.
Evidence reveal that jitteriness/anxiety syndrome predicts an improved prognosis (level D).
Activation syndrome resolves within hours of discontinuing the serotonergic agent and initiating care. However, resolution of symptoms may be slightly longer in those taking medications with longer half-lives, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
References
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Syndromes
Substance-related disorders