Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Basics
Description
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a life-threatening condition that may develop during treatment with neuroleptic medications; 2/3 of cases develop within the first 2 weeks of initiating therapy but can happen at any time during therapy.
- Nonneuroleptic medications with antidopaminergic activity have also been implicated to a lesser degree.
- Characterized by muscular rigidity due to dopamine antagonism in the nigrostriatal pathway
- Signs and symptoms include hyperthermia from antagonism of hypothalamic thermoregulation (more likely in the setting of benzodiazepine withdrawal); autonomic instability, cognitive changes, and elevations of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) are other hallmarks.
- Can be indistinguishable from other causes of drug-induced hyperthermia (e.g., malignant hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, lethal catatonia, anticholinergic toxins, or sympathomimetic poisoning); detailed history is essential to differentiate between these other conditions.
Epidemiology
Incidence
- Variably reported as 0.01–3%
- 2,000 new cases annually in the United States
- Predominant sex: male > female
- Predominant age: <40 years
Prevalence
0.15% +/− 0.05% among patients receiving neuroleptics (1)
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Exact mechanism: unknown
- Most likely due to central dopaminergic blockade of nigrostriatal, hypothalamic, mesocortical/limbic pathways
- Sympathoadrenal hyperactivity and defects in neuronal calcium regulatory proteins may also contribute.
- Most commonly seen with typical antipsychotics: phenothiazines (e.g., fluphenazine), butyrophenones (e.g., haloperidol), and thiothixene (1)[C]
- May also be seen with atypical antipsychotics (e.g., clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine) (1)[C]
- Nonneuroleptic agents with antidopaminergic activity (e.g., metoclopramide, promethazine, and droperidol) have also been implicated.
- Rare cases have occurred with usage of medications not known to have any central antidopaminergic activity (e.g., lithium, phenelzine, and desipramine).
- Also associated with withdrawal from dopamine agonists in Parkinson disease, CNS shunt failure, and functional hemispherectomy
Genetics
- Some studies show a genetic predisposition to NMS.
- Polymorphisms: loss of DEL allele in 141C Ins/Del of the dopamine D2 receptor gene and Ser9Gly in the dopamine D3 receptor gene
Risk Factors
- High-potency neuroleptic medications; newly administered medication or a rapid increase in the dose of an existing agent
- Intramuscular or depot administration of medications
- Concurrent use of multiple neuroleptic agents
- Administration of neuroleptics with other drugs known to cause NMS, such as lithium
- Previous episodes of NMS
- Exposure to heat
- Dehydration/malnutrition
- Presence of an underlying structural/functional brain disorder (tumor, encephalitis, delirium/dementia)
- Postpartum women may be at an increased risk for developing NMS.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117161/all/Neuroleptic_Malignant_Syndrome.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117161/all/Neuroleptic_Malignant_Syndrome. Accessed October 11, 2024.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117161/all/Neuroleptic_Malignant_Syndrome
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 11]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117161/all/Neuroleptic_Malignant_Syndrome.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
ID - 117161
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117161/all/Neuroleptic_Malignant_Syndrome
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -