Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Symptoms
Article Sources
- 1. Berman, Brian D. “Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a review for neurohospitalists.” The Neurohospitalist vol. 1,1 (2011): 41-7. doi:10.1177/1941875210386491
- 2. Khan, Zafar, Rajaratnam, R., Singh, Vinod. “Neurogenic bladder in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.” Urology vol. 37,6 (1991): 533-544. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0090429591803207
- 3. Simon LV, Hashmi MF, Callahan AL. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. [Updated 2020 Jun 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482282/
- 4. Tse, Lurdes et al. “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Review from a Clinically Oriented Perspective.” Current neuropharmacology vol. 13,3 (2015): 395-406. doi:10.2174/1570159x13999150424113345
1. Muscle Rigidity
Muscle rigidity should not be confused with a muscle spasm or having “stiff muscles”. Muscle rigidity is actually due to an issue within the brain vs. the muscle itself. The messages that the muscles receive are abnormal and will cause some degree of rigidness. The amount of rigidness can vary and be as extreme as a non-moveable limb.
The withdrawal of dopamine that causes NMS will affect the part of the brain that controls this aspect of our muscles. Due to this effect on the brain, muscle rigidity is one of the primary signs of NMS. It can be of a small area of the body, symmetrical on both sides, and can range from slight increase in muscle tone to total rigidity.4Tse, Lurdes et al. “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Review from a Clinically Oriented Perspective.” Current neuropharmacology vol. 13,3 (2015): 395-406. doi:10.2174/1570159x13999150424113345
