PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)MedicationsHard
A pharmacy technician is reviewing a prescription for 'linezolid 600 mg IV every 12 hours' for a patient who is also taking 'sertraline 100 mg daily' for depression. Which of the following potential drug interactions should the technician be most alert for?
- ADecreased effectiveness of linezolid due to enzyme induction.
- BIncreased risk of nephrotoxicity.
- CIncreased risk of bleeding due to platelet aggregation inhibition.
- DDevelopment of serotonin syndrome.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Development of serotonin syndrome.
Linezolid is a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) and sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The concomitant use of these two drugs can lead to an accumulation of serotonin in the central nervous system, resulting in serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Linezolid is not typically subject to enzyme induction by sertraline that would decrease its effectiveness.
- B. While some drugs cause nephrotoxicity, this specific combination is not primarily known for this interaction.
- C. This interaction is more commonly associated with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, not typically linezolid and sertraline.
Serotonin Syndrome
A potentially life-threatening drug reaction caused by excessive serotonin activity in the central nervous system, often resulting from the concurrent use of serotonergic drugs.
- Symptoms include mental status changes, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular abnormalities.
- Commonly occurs with MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, and other serotonergic drugs.
- Requires immediate medical attention and discontinuation of offending agents.
Memory trick: Too much 'Serotonin' can 'Overload' your 'Brain' with dangerous effects.