title: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome during low dosed neuroleptic medication in first-episode psychosis: a case report.
abstract: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially fatal side-effect of antipsychotic drug therapy, especially of dopamine receptor antagonists. As a dose relationship has been postulated, low dose neuroleptization would be expected to help to avoid this side-effect. In contrast, we report on a 21-year-old female following low dose fluphenazine treatment with 2.5 mg/day. The patient recovered from NMS after 3 days of dantrolene administration. Eventually, remission from psychotic symptoms was achieved with clozapine. At 8-month follow-up, psychopathology remained stable and there were no more signs of NMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Berne, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gönner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schüpbach
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Merlo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D003620:Dantrolene; D003024:Clozapine; D005476:Fluphenazine