Severe hyperthermia during tetrabenazine therapy for tardive dyskinesia

We recently observed a 45-year-old patient with a history of psychiatric illness who presented with severe hyperthermia (rectal temperature above 41°C) with intense rhabdomyolysis and liver cytolysis during tetrabenazine therapy for neuroleptic tardive dyskinesia. In addition to tetrabenazine, this patient took lorazepam and two antidepressant drugs: clomipramine, a potent serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, and mianserin. Hyperthermia responded to parenteral sodium dantrolene and oral bromocriptine administration. The significant role of tetrabenazine (a central nervous system dopamine-depleting drug) and the contribution of antidepressants to the mechanism of this neuroleptic malignant syndrome-like hyperthermia are discussed.SCOPUS: ar.j