Aripiprazole for agitation in a 13-year-old girl with neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) rarely results from atypical antipsychotic therapy. To date, no information is available on the incidence of NMS with aripiprazole, a newer neuroleptic. Objective: To examine the results of a trial of aripiprazole administered to a 13-year-old Mexican-American girl during the course of NMS. Methods: Vital signs and laboratory values obtained before and during the aripiprazole trial were compared. Results: Aripiprazole administration resulted in a mild increase in tachycardia and brief worsening of serum creatinine kinase level, but did not significantly affect temperature, respiratory rate, or blood pressure. Conclusions: In this adolescent with NMS, aripiprazole treatment was associated with a mild worsening of symptoms.