Risperidone-Induced Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Report and Review

Abstract

Objectives: 1. To report the case of a 53-year-old patient who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) — a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of neuroleptic therapy — 4 days after treatment with risperidone was initiated. 2. To review previously reported cases of NMS associated with risperidone. Methods: A computerized search of several databases, including MEDLINE, was conducted to find all previously reported cases of NMS with risperidone. Results: Five reported cases of risperidone-induced NMS were found in the literature. All cases including the one reported here displayed typical clinical features of NMS and all 6 patients had a prior history of extrapyramidal side effects and/or NMS. Age and duration of exposure to risperidone did not seem to be of significance. Conclusions: These cases illustrate that clinicians should be on the lookout for risperidone-induced NMS.