*Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)* is a rare, but life-threatening, idiosyncratic reaction to neuroleptic medications that is characterized by fever, muscular rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic dysfunction
Cardinal features are as follows:
• Severe muscular rigidity
• Hyperthermia (temperature >38°C)
• Autonomic instability
• Changes in the level of consciousness
• Muscular rigidity (typically, “lead pipe” rigidity)
• Hyperthermia (temperature >38°C)
• Diaphoresis
• Pallor
• Dysphagia
• Dyspnea
• Tremor
• Incontinence
• Shuffling gait
• Psychomotor agitation
• Delirium progressing to lethargy, stupor, coma
• Sialorrhea
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnea, respiratory distress (31% of cases)
• Increased or labile blood pressure
• Hypoxemia (low pulse oximeter reading)