Reversible Hypothermia in a Drug-naive Inpatient with Alzheimer's Disease Receiving Pipamperone.
Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening side effect of antipsychotic drugs, especially those with strong 5-HT2 antagonist properties. However, the exact underlying mechanism is still under debate. We discuss a case of hypothermia following pipamperone treatment in an elderly female inpatient with Alzheimer's disease, which occurred at day 4 after medication onset and vanished after dose reduction. Thus, this case demonstrates 1) the importance of monitoring body temperature even in low-potency antipsychotics, at least in the elderly, and 2) that in some cases, dose reduction may be a sufficient countermeasure.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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D
Kamp
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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M
Paschali
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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C
Lange-Asschenfeldt
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002090:Butyrophenones; C005569:pipamperone