RHABDOMYOLYSIS AND ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE DURING HIGH-DOSE HALOPERIDOL THERAPY

Severe adverse reactions to neuroleptic medications are not uncommon a nd include the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and acu te renal failure. The neuroleptic malignant syndrome consists of hyper thermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia, tachypnea, abnormal blood pressure, alteration of consciousness, and extrapyramidal rigidity. Rhabdomyoly sis-which might be due to hyperthermia, muscle: rigidity, and/or metab olic changes in skeletal muscle function-results in acute renal failur e. We report a patient with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure tha t developed after large doses of haloperidol were given, but without m uscle rigidity or hyperthermia. This patient's presentation illustrate s that high-dose haloperidol therapy might cause rhabdomyolysis and ac ute renal failure without significant rigidity or hyperthermia.