The relationship between the serotonin 2A receptor gene –1438A/G and 102T/C polymorphisms and citalopram/sertraline‐induced nausea in major depressed patients

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the polymorphisms of –1438A/G and 102T/C in the 5‐HT2A receptor (HTR2A) gene and nausea/vomiting as a side effect induced by sertraline (SERT) or citalopram (CIT) in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods A total of 128 patients were enrolled, 63 patients received CIT, whereas 65 patients were treated with SERT. Nausea/vomiting were assessed with the UKU Side‐effects Rating Scale at baseline and at the end of the second and fourth weeks. Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was employed to determine genetic differences. Results We have found that, in the patients treated with CIT, there was a nominally significant difference in the genotypic distribution associated with ‐1438A/G polymorphism between patients with and without nausea (X2 = 6.15, p = 0.041). Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between nausea/vomiting as a side effect and –1438A/G polymorphism. That is, patients with the G allele were at a higher risk for developing nausea/vomiting (p = 0.044, odds ratio = 2.213). The 102T/C polymorphism in the HTR2A gene had no significant effect on the nausea/vomiting as a side effect among participants treated with either CIT or SERT. Conclusion The present study suggests the association of the HTR2A gene –1438A/G polymorphism with nausea/vomiting as a side effect related to CIT treatment.