Antipsychotic-Related Hypothermia: Five New Cases

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Hypothermia is a rare but potentially fatal adverse effect associated with antipsychotic drug (APD) use.
• The condition is infrequently documented, with only 69 cases reported in existing literature.

Observation:

• This study presents five new cases of hypothermia potentially linked to APD use.
• Structured assessment tools were employed to evaluate the causal role of specific APDs, including clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, penfluridol, risperidone, and zuclopentixol.
• All five patients had additional predisposing factors for hypothermia besides APD exposure.

Findings:

• The causal role of APDs was assessed as "possible" in four cases of moderate hypothermia and "doubtful" in one case of mild hypothermia.
• Assessment tools were valuable in identifying additional risk factors that may contribute to hypothermia alongside APD use.

Implications:

• Continuous body temperature monitoring for 7-10 days after initiating or increasing APD dosage is recommended for early detection.
• Utilizing assessment tools to identify co-existing risk factors is crucial for clinical decision-making regarding APD discontinuation.
• Further research is required to establish reliable prevalence data for APD-related hypothermia and its clinical impact.