title: Hypothermia Associated With Thioridazine Use in an Intellectually Disabled Patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of hypothermia in a patient with intellectual disability treated with thioridazine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 59-year-old female presented to the emergency department with altered mental status, generalized weakness, chills, and fatigue and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Upon completion of a history and physical examination, the patient was found to be hypothermic with a temperature of 91 F. A Bair Hugger protocol was initiated to manage hypothermia, and a taper schedule for thioridazine was initiated as it was identified as a possible culprit for the patient's hypothermia. According to the Naranjo probability scale, thioridazine was a possible cause of this adverse effect. Other patient-specific risk factors for hypothermia were evaluated and ruled out.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case indicates a possible correlation between hypothermia and the use of phenothiazine antipsychotics such as thioridazine. Appropriate measures, including early detection and identification of possible causative agents, should be taken to prevent and treat this adverse event in patients taking these medications, specifically in patients with the inability to participate in self-care.
authors.affiliation: Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC, USA nhgoodbar@presby.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Goodbar
authors.affiliation: Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jaime A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Foushee
authors.affiliation: Marshall Pickens Hospital/Greenville Health System, Greenville, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.affiliation: Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC, USA.
authors.forename: L Markie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013881:Thioridazine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013881:Thioridazine
keywords: internal medicine; medication safety