Heat stroke during long-term clozapine treatment: should we be concerned about hot weather?

Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2016 Jan-Mar;38(1):56-9. doi: 10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0066.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the case of a patient with schizophrenia on clozapine treatment who had an episode of heat stroke.

Case description: During a heat wave in January and February 2014, a patient with schizophrenia who was on treatment with clozapine was initially referred for differential diagnose between systemic infection and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, but was finally diagnosed with heat stroke and treated with control of body temperature and hydration.

Comments: This report aims to alert clinicians take this condition into consideration among other differential diagnoses, especially nowadays with the rise in global temperatures, and to highlight the need for accurate diagnosis of clinical events during pharmacological intervention, in order to improve treatment decisions and outcomes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clozapine / adverse effects*
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Heat Stroke / blood
  • Heat Stroke / complications
  • Heat Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / blood
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine