Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and subsequent clozapine-withdrawal effects in a patient with refractory schizophrenia

• Main Authors: Cheng MF, Gu HY, Zheng LR, Wang HL, Zhong ZY, Wen SL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2016-03-01
• Series: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
• Subjects: Clozapine; Neuroleptic malignant syndrome; Withdrawal effect; Schizophrenia.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/neuroleptic-malignant-syndrome-and-subsequent-clozapine-withdrawal-eff-peer-reviewed-article-NDT
• ISSN: 1178-2021

Minfeng Cheng,* Huaying Gu,* Liangrong Zheng, Houliang Wang, Zhiyong Zhong, Shenglin Wen Department of Psychiatry, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Here, we report a female patient developing neuroleptic malignant syndrome following the use of a combination of clozapine and haloperidol. Subsequently, the patient presented withdrawal effects after an abrupt discontinuation of clozapine. Psychiatrists not aware of possible clozapine-withdrawal effects may misdiagnose as a part of the primary mental illness or as the initial symptoms worsening, if unrecognized. Keywords: clozapine, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, withdrawal effect, schizophrenia