A psychiatrist for Gateway Homes since 2009, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha has been serving as a mental health professional for over 20 years. Besides teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha has published research articles covering topics such as schizophrenia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
A very rare and life-threatening condition, NMS happens when the patient's body reacts to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs that treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. The condition affects the nervous system, and a few symptoms include high fever, muscular rigidity, unstable blood pressure, sweating, and autonomic dysfunction.
Although any antipsychotic drugs can cause NMS, some stronger medications such as haloperidol and fluphenazine are more likely to trigger it. In addition, NMS is more common in men than women, and the chances of getting it are higher if the person takes a high dose of the drug or increases their dose too quickly. Moreover, getting the medicine as a shot or switching from one antipsychotic medication to another also increases the likelihood of getting NMS. Lastly, people who take medicine for Parkinson's disease can get NMS if they suddenly stop their drug treatment.
A very rare and life-threatening condition, NMS happens when the patient's body reacts to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs that treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions. The condition affects the nervous system, and a few symptoms include high fever, muscular rigidity, unstable blood pressure, sweating, and autonomic dysfunction.
Although any antipsychotic drugs can cause NMS, some stronger medications such as haloperidol and fluphenazine are more likely to trigger it. In addition, NMS is more common in men than women, and the chances of getting it are higher if the person takes a high dose of the drug or increases their dose too quickly. Moreover, getting the medicine as a shot or switching from one antipsychotic medication to another also increases the likelihood of getting NMS. Lastly, people who take medicine for Parkinson's disease can get NMS if they suddenly stop their drug treatment.
