title: The use of clonidine in the management of autonomic overactivity in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the effectiveness of clonidine in the recovery of patients with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and autonomic dysfunction, including blood pressure lability. Nine patients with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and autonomic dysfunction were treated with clonidine in the intensive care unit, according to a protocol, and the results were compared with those of seven patients with the same syndrome who were not treated with clonidine. Clonidine was administered until blood pressure stability was fully restored, and thereafter the dose was gradually reduced. There was a significant reduction in the duration of ventilation and stay in the intensive care unit in the clonidine group. Three patients from the nonclonidine group died. The data suggest that in the clonidine group, patients with neuroleptic malignant syndrome and autonomic dysfunction appear to have better and faster recovery, especially in blood pressure control, after intravenous clonidine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Insufficiency, Chest Hospital of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gregorakos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomaides
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stratouli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakayanni
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine