quetiapine-fumarate and Muscle-Rigidity

A retrospective analysis was followed on 20 case reports covering the possible correlation between the atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), determined by the study of 7 different NMS criteria guidelines. A great majority (19) of the case studies did not meet the requirements of all 7 guidelines, frequently due to unreported information. Nor was quetiapine proven to be the sole cause of the possible NMS in the two age groups investigated. Only one case was found to have no other medication or medical conditions confounding the relationship of quetiapine and NMS symptoms, and that case was in the context of a significant quetiapine overdose. The other 19 cases demonstrated the difficulty of identifying the cause of NMS when polypharmacy and other medical conditions are involved. The authors note the need for caution in deciding both the presence of NMS and the causal factors of the symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Antiparkinson Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Dibenzothiazepines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fever; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Muscle Rigidity; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Quetiapine Fumarate; Retrospective Studies; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Serotonin Syndrome; Young Adult