Which antidepressant class is known for potentially leading to serotonin syndrome if combined with other serotonergic agents?

The class of antidepressants known for the potential to lead to serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic agents is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This risk is primarily due to the mechanism by which SSRIs operate; they function by selectively inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, thereby increasing its availability in the synaptic cleft.

When SSRIs are used in conjunction with other medications that also increase serotonin levels—such as other antidepressants, certain pain medications, or supplements like St. John's Wort—there is a cumulative effect that may lead to an excessively high concentration of serotonin. This can precipitate serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms such as confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, and severe muscle rigidity, among others.

Other antidepressant classes mentioned have different mechanisms of action or are less commonly associated with serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic agents. For instance, tricyclic antidepressants can also affect serotonin but have a wider range of side effects and are not as strictly serotonergic. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors can lead to hypertensive crises when combined with tyramine-rich foods; however, they are not primarily implicated in serotonin syndrome in the same