Antipsychotic-induced tardive movement disorders: a series of twelve cases.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged use of antipsychotic drugs (AP) with or without sudden withdrawal as well as high dosage of AP (at least 3 months) may result in a variety of movement disorders such as classical tardive dyskinesia (tongue rolling, lip pouting, trunkal choreiform movements), tardive myoclonus (sudden, brief involuntary jerking), tardive dystonia (tongue protrusion, torticollis, scoliosis, jaw spasm, bruxism, abnormal trunkal posture, or "Pisa syndrome", strong contraction of arm and leg). Patients with severe symptoms often suffer from body pain and fractures of bones due to frequent fallings. They are also accused of "faking" to call attention or they believe that the symptoms are signs of being "cursed or posses in". OBJECTIVE: To report twelve patients of antipsychotic drug induced tardive movement disorders including tardive dystonia, tardive myoclonus, and tardive Parkinsonism. Patients were incorrectly diagnosed as epilepsy, conversion (pseudo seizure), or hypochondriasis. RESULTS: In the present series, there were eight men and four women with age ranging from 13 to 72 years. All patients had been taking both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs for at least one year. Strong involuntary movement disorders, torticollis, scoliosis, body pain, difficulty in swallowing, and aphonia were observed Most patients were thin and anemic. They responded well to diazepam, anticholinergic drug, clonazepam lithium, and antidepressant while antipsychotic drugs were discontinued in most cases. Calcium salt and iron supplement appeared to be useful. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of these abnormal movement disorders induced by AP drugs to detect early and provide prompt treatment. AP drug should be used cautiously to prevent this iatrogenic effect particularly in high- risk patients.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a review and report of six cases.

The typical symptoms and signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) consist of fever muscle rigidity (stiffness, myoclonus, rod-like), alterations of consciousness (confusion, agitation, aggression, or catatonia), autonomic nervous system disturbances (i.e., hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, profuse sweating, and urine incontinence), abnormal blood tests such as low serum electrolytes, elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level, and leukocytosis. Muscle rigidity is often associated with myonecrosis, myoglobinuria, and elevated serum CPK. The mortality among NMS cases is in the 10 to 70% range depending on the severity of the symptoms and time of therapeutic approach. Mandatory therapy should include removal of causative agents, correction of body fluid and electrolytes, administration of benzodiazepine, clonazepam and bromocriptine (dopamine agonist), proved life-saving medications. The authors reported herein six cases with unusual clinical features of NMS. Four of them had been on antipsychotic for a year before becoming anorexic, dehydrated, agitated, and violent with paranoid delusion. One instance with underlying delirium tremens developed NMS after receiving haloperidol (30 mg IV) in addition to diazepam (200 mg IV) within 24 hours. Another patient was found to suffer from severe NMS after receiving bupropion (Dopamine inhibitor antidepressant) 300 mg/day. All patients displayed cardinal signs and symptoms of NMS in addition to dehydration and pallor. They were treated in the psychiatric ward and recovered rapidly from NMS after receiving clonazepam and bromocriptine and removal of the offending agents.