Fulminant Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Induced by Low Doses of Quetiapine in an old Patient

Year 2016, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 17 - 20, 27.04.2016

Tuba Özcan , Nilay Taş Esra Demir Murat İşcanlı Özlem Özdemir , Osman Bektaş Arzu Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.12845

Abstract

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a rare but life-threatening idiosyncratic adverse reaction to antipsychotic medication. NMS is commonly seen with typical antipsychotics that also reported with atypical antipsychotic drugs. A 81-year-old man was presented to emergency department of our hospital due to altered mental state. He had been taking quetiapine for 3 days for management of aggressive behavior. Just after treatment with 50 mg/day quetiapine at the previous hospital, he developed hyperthermia, altered mental status and akineticrigid Parkinsonism, and he had been transferred to our hospital. He was diagnosed with possible NMS based on history, altered mental state, rigidity, leukocytosis, hyperthermia, and increased blood level of CK. So, he was admitted to the intensive care unit immediately. This paper reports a rare fulminant NMS induced by low doses of quetiapine. The clinical manifestations and laboratory test results corresponded to the diagnostic criteria of NMS. It must be kept in mind that even low doses of atypic antipsychotic drugs such as quetiapine can trigger NMS.

Keywords

neuroleptic malignant syndrome, atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine

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