neuroleptic malignant syndrome

neuroleptic malignant syndrome

n.

Hyperthermia in reaction to the use of neuroleptic drugs, accompanied by extrapyramidal and autonomic disturbances that may be fatal.

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neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Etymology: Gk, neuron, nerve, lepsis, seizure; L, malignus, bad disposition; Gk, syn, together, dromos, course

a condition characterized by hypertonicity, pallor, dyskinesia, fever, incontinence, unstable blood pressure, and pulmonary congestion. It is caused by the administration of neuroleptic drugs at normal or high doses. Reaction to these drugs is idiosyncratic.

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neuroleptic [noor″o-lep´tik]

a term coined to refer to the effects on cognition and behavior of the original antipsychotic agents, which produced a state of apathy, lack of initiative, and limited range of emotion and in psychotic patients caused a reduction in confusion and agitation and normalization of psychomotor activity. The term is still used to refer to agents, such as droperidol, used to produce such effects as part of anesthesia or analgesia; however, it is outdated as a synonym for antipsychotic agents because newer agents do not necessarily have such effects.

neuroleptic malignant syndrome a rare but dramatic condition that occurs in severely ill patients being treated with high-potency antipsychotics (neuroleptics); symptoms include diaphoresis, muscle rigidity, and hyperpyrexia. It is believed to be caused by dopamine blockade in the hypothalamus.

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neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Neurology A disorder seen in those receiving antipsychotics–eg, haloperidol, major tranquilizers, and other agents–eg, phenothiazines, reserpine, butyrophenone, an effect attributed to dopamine blockade in the basal ganglia and hypothalamus; NMS may also be associated with anesthesia, affecting +– 1:50,000 Pts exposed to inhalation anesthesia, most commonly in young ♂, transiently weakened by exhaustion, dehydration Clinical Fever ≥ 41ºC, extrapyramidal Sx–eg, rigidity, involuntary movements, facial dyskinesia, skeletal muscle hypertonicity, loss of consciousness, autonomic lability–pallor, sweating, tachycardia, arrhythmia, transient HTN which, if severe, may cause renal failure Mortality 20-30%, often between days 3-30, usually from renal failure Treatment Bromocriptine or dantrolene may shorten clinical disease