Acute dystonic reaction with low-dose pimozide.
It is essential to recognize individual susceptibility to neuroleptic-induced side effects for treatment guidelines. This paper reports on a 6.9-year-old autistic male who developed repeated episodes of acute dystonic reactions associated with pimozide administration at the doses of 0.096 mg/kg/day and 0.032 mg/kg/day and 32 hours following pimozide withdrawal, as well as during subsequent thioridazine administration. It draws the clinician's attention to unusual susceptibility to extrapyramidal side effects and suggests that if a child shows this type of susceptibility to one neuroleptic, he/she may react similarly to other neuroleptics as well.
Ernst
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Gonzalez
N M
NM
Campbell
M
M
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010868:Pimozide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010868:Pimozide