Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and malignant hyperthermia

In recent years, reports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and malignant hyperthormia have been appearing in psychiatric literature with increasing frequency. In this paper experience with eight such cases has been described. Four cases ended fatally within two hours of developing hyperthermia. They all occurred during the hot summer months from June to August and three of them were on lithium in addition to neuroleptics. No warning signs or symptoms of lithium toxicity were observed. Of the four cases who could be saved none of them were on lithium, three occurred during months of May/June, two had developed hyperthermia. Bromocriptine was used in three cases as anticholinergic and intravenous diazepam was not of much help