A rare, life-threatening disorder that is caused by neuroleptic medications. It is characterized by fever, muscular cramps and rigidity, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and changes in the mental status that may lead to coma.
Symptoms of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following features are indicative of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
tachycardia
very high fever
tachypnea
irregular pulse
altered mental status
muscle rigidity
excessive sweating
profuse perspiration
high or low blood pressure
hyperkalemia
rhabdomyolysis
muscle cramps
tremors
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Common Causes of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following are the most common causes of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
use of antipsychotic drugs
dopamine receptor blockade
Risk Factors for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
men
Lewy body dementia
agitation
catatonia
dehydration
Prevention of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
increase awareness about the disease
Occurrence of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
Detailed medical history and physical examination: To diagnose neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Doctor for Diagnosis of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
Critical care medicine specialist
Neurologist
Psychiatrist
Complications of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome if untreated
Yes, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome is left untreated:
high blood potassium
rhabdomyolysis
seizures
kidney failure
can be fatal
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome:
Use of cooling blankets or ice packs: Treats the hyperthermia aggressively
Patient Support for Treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
The following actions may help Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome patients:
Increase awareness of the syndrome: Helps in lowering the incidence of the disease
Time for Treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: