Loading...
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) — a rare but serious complication of antipsychotic medications and others affecting dopamine receptors (estimated mortality, 5%–22%) — is characterized by fever, rigidity, impaired consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, elevated creatine kinase, and leukocytosis. Besides discontinuation of antipsychotics, management has traditionally been symptomatic. Nonspecific treatment usually requires hydration; more-severe cases might require management in intensive care, including mechanical cooling, nutritional supplementation, control of laboratory values, stabilization of the circulatory system, prophylactic anticoagulation, cardiac control, and ventilation. To ascertain whether the muscle relaxant dantrolene, t…