quetiapine-fumarate and Hypothermia

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Antipsychotic Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Hypothermia; Quetiapine Fumarate; Rewarming

Hypothermia is a rare but serious condition that has been associated with various psychiatric medications. We present a 76-year-old woman with refractory mania who developed multiple episodes of severe hypothermia associated with several psychiatric medications including olanzapine, quetiapine, valproic acid and oxcarbazepine. These episodes resolved following discontinuation of the agents. The patient had never experienced hypothermia before, despite having been on these or similar agents for many years. With traditional treatments for mania not feasible, other medications were used to treat her including lithium, clonazepam, gabapentin and the novel protein kinase c inhibitor tamoxifen. The regimen resulted in some success and importantly, without triggering hypothermia. This case alerts clinicians to the rare side effect of hypothermia in response to various psychiatric medications, the fact that patients can suddenly develop this intolerance and suggests possible medications that may be used safely without triggering hypothermia.

Topics: Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Bipolar Disorder; Carbamazepine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hypothermia; Olanzapine; Oxcarbazepine; Quetiapine Fumarate; Recurrence; Valproic Acid

The study objectives were to examine the effects of the atypical antipsychotic drugs olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine on core temperature in the rat in relation to such effects produced by clozapine and to compare possible in vivo intrinsic efficacy of olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine at dopamine (DA) D(1) receptors with such effects previously shown for clozapine. Core temperature measurements were made in adult male Wistar rats maintained under standard laboratory conditions using a reversed 12-h daylight cycle. Clozapine (0-32 micromol/kg s.c.), olanzapine (0-32 micromol/kg s.c.), and risperidone (0-4 micromol/kg s.c.) all produced a dose-dependent hypothermia. Except for slight nondose-dependent hyperthermia, there were no effects of quetiapine (0-16 micromol/kg s.c. or i.p.) on the core temperature. The hypothermia produced by clozapine, but not that produced by equipotent doses of olanzapine or risperidone, was fully antagonized by pretreatment with the DA D(1) receptor antagonist SCH-23,390 (0.1 micromol/kg s.c.). On the other hand, quinpirole-induced hypothermia (4 micromol/kg s.c.) was partially antagonized by olanzapine (2 micromol/kg s.c.), risperidone (4 micromol/kg s.c.), and quetiapine (16 micromol/kg s.c.) but not by clozapine (1 micromol/kg s.c.). Clozapine preferentially stimulates DA D(1) receptors in comparison with olanzapine and risperidone, whereas olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine preferentially block DA D(2) receptors compared with clozapine. It is suggested that stimulation of DA D(1) receptors, presumably in the prefrontal cortex, is a distinguishing feature of clozapine responsible for its favorable profile on cognitive functioning in schizophrenia.

Topics: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzazepines; Benzodiazepines; Clozapine; Dibenzothiazepines; Dopamine Agonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Fever; Hypothermia; Male; Olanzapine; Pirenzepine; Quetiapine Fumarate; Quinpirole; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Dopamine; Risperidone; Time Factors