Atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome and non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy

We report the case of a middle-aged woman with a history of bipolar disorder, in the absence of alcohol or substance misuse. The patient had been maintained on fluphenazine decanoate depot and now presented acutely with cognitive dysfunction and rigidity. Laboratory tests revealed elevated creatine kinase, acute kidney injury with metabolic acidosis and transaminitis, leading to a provisional diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Neuroleptics were withheld; dialysis was commenced; and blood biochemistry parameters improved in tandem. However, mental status changes persisted, and re-evaluation revealed multidirectional nystagmus with bilateral past-pointing. MRI confirmed the diagnosis of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE). Prompt recovery followed treatment with high-dose intravenous thiamine. We discuss the co-occurrence of NMS and non-alcoholic WE—highlighting the need for a high index of suspicion for these relatively rare neuropsychiatric diagnoses which are often missed in those with atypical presentations.

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics: what, when, and how

Current guidelines for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia advocate that patients receive treatment with a long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medication if they prefer such treatment or if they have a history of poor or uncertain adherence. Available LAI formulations in the United States include first-generation antipsychotics (fluphenazine decanoate and haloperidol decanoate), risperidone/paliperidone containing products (risperidone microspheres, paliperidone palmitate, and risperidone subcutaneous), aripiprazole containing products (aripiprazole monohydrate and aripiprazole lauroxil), and olanzapine pamoate. LAI antipsychotics can address the guesswork about adherence status and patients may prefer them if they are offered this as a choice, including individuals early in their disease course. Additional approved indications in the United States for LAI antipsychotics include bipolar I disorder maintenance treatment for risperidone microspheres and aripiprazole monohydrate, and schizoaffective disorder for paliperidone palmitate once monthly. Differences and similarities among the different products are discussed, including guidance regarding optimal treatment selection. Tips are provided to enhance effective patient communication to maximize the likelihood of acceptance of this treatment modality.

Psychotropic Medication Usage for Psychiatric Emergencies in a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Nigeria

Background:This study documented the usage of psychotropics in patients presenting with psychiatric emergencies. The usage of psychotropic medications has to do with the prescription pattern of the clinicians in any setting. Materials & Methods: A retrospective study carried out at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Case notes of patients who presented withpsychiatric emergencies were retrieved, data extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of one hundred and fourteen patients were studied over a 10 year period. Most patients (82.5%) were diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Antipsychotics accounted for 67.5% of all prescriptions. Chlorpromazine was the most commonly prescribed oral psychotropic (22.8%). Mood stabilizers were 12.3% while antidepressants were 12.3% of all prescriptions. Parenteral psychotropics were used more as combination (60.5%) than as single parenteral medication (14.0%). Commonest combination of parenteral psychotropic was Chlorpromazine and Diazepam. Long-acting medications commonly used were Fluphenazine Decanoate (20.8%) and Flupenthixol Decanoate (17.4%). Conclusion: Oral antipsychotics were more prescribed with Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol as commonest. Amitriptylline was the commonest antidepressant prescribed while Chlorpromazine and Diazepam were the commonest parenteral psychotropic used. Fluphenazine Decanoate and Flupenthixol Decanoate were the commonest long-acting parenteral medications prescribed Keywords: Psychotropics, prescription pattern, psychiatric emergency, Nigeria. French title: L'utilisation de médicaments psychotropes pour les urgences psychiatriques dans un tertiaire centre de soins de santé au Nigéria Contexte général de l'étude : Les médicaments psychotropes sont des médicaments utilisés pour traiter les troubles mentaux. L'utilisation de médicaments est liée au modèle de prescription des cliniciens dans n'importe quel contexte. Ainsi, cette étude a documenté l'utilisation des psychotropes chez les patients présentant des urgences psychiatriques.Matériaux et méthodes de l'étude : Étude rétrospective qui a été effectuée à l'unité des accidents et d'urgence de l'Université du Bénin Centre hospitalier universitaire, Ville Bénin. Les notes de cas des patients qui ont présenté des urgences psychiatriques ont été récupérées, les données extraites et analysées.Résultats de l'étude : Cent quatorze patients ont été étudiés. La plupart des patients (82,5%) ont reçu un diagnostic de troubles psychotiques. Les antipsychotiques représentaient 67,5% de toutes les ordonnances. La chlorpromazine était le psychotrope oral le plus couramment prescrit (22,8%). Les stabilisateurs de l'humeur représentaient 12,3% tandis que les antidépresseurs représentaient 12,3% de toutes les ordonnances. L'antidépresseur le plus couramment prescrit était l'amitriptylline. Les psychotropes parentéraux ont été plus utilisés en association (60,5%) qu'en médicament monoparental (14,0%). L'association la plus courante de psychotropes parentéraux était la chlorpromazine et le diazépam dans 55,7% des cas. Les médicaments à action prolongée couramment utilisés étaient le décanoate de fluphénazine (20,8%) et le décanoate de flupenthixol(17,4%).Conclusion: Les antipsychotiques oraux étaient plus prescrits, la chlorpromazine et l'halopéridol étant les médicaments les plus couramment utilisés. L'amitriptylline est l'antidépresseur le plus courant, tandis que la chlorpromazine et le diazépam étaient les psychotropes parentéraux les plus couramment utilisés. Le décanoate de fluphénazine et le décanoate de flupenthixol étaient les médicaments parentéraux à action prolongée les plus couramment prescrits. Mots-clés : Psychotropes, utilisation, e psychiatrique Mergency, Nigéria

Plasma levels of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in outpatient care: a retrospective analysis

Background The antipsychotic efficacy in schizophrenia depends on its availability in the organism. Although therapeutic outcomes remain still far from satisfactory, therapeutic drug monitoring is not a common part of clinical practice during a treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI AP). The real effectiveness of LAI AP is thus uncertain. Methods We made a retrospective evaluation of plasma levels of LAI AP. Collection of blood samples was performed just before the drug application and one week later. Fourty patients with a stabilized clinical condition and steady-state plasma levels were included. Results In the observed cohort of patients, flupentixol decanoate (n = 23) was the most often used drug, followed by fluphenazine decanoate (n = 7), haloperidol decanoate (n = 5), paliperidon palmitate (n = 3), and risperidone microspheres (n = 2). Just 5 of 40 patients were treated with a monotherapy. At the time before the application, 60% of the patients did not reach the therapeutic reference range (TRR) and 20% of the patients had an undetectable plasma level. At the time of collection of the second blood samples performed after 7 days, 24% of the patients were under the TRR. Conclusion We have found the surprisingly high incidence of plasma levels under the TRR in patients treated with LAI AP. Notwithstanding the individual variability in pharmacokinetics, it seems the LAI AP may be underdosed in the usual clinical practice.

Drug-Drug-Induced Akathisia: Two Case Reports

Extrapyramidal side effects of psychotropic medicines are usually experienced by patients in the first few weeks of initiating therapy. Patients stabilized on these medications who present with distressing complaints akin to akathisia may be triggered by other factors. This report presents two cases of drug-drug-induced akathisia. Case A is a patient with schizophrenia who was being managed with risperidone 2 mg tablet daily for the past 3 years. She fell ill and reported to a nearby clinic where she was prescribed ciprofloxacin and artemether/lumefantrine tablets for the treatment of an infection and malaria. She presented 7 days later to her psychiatrist with complaints of restlessness, tremor, palpitations, insomnia, and resurgence of obsessive thoughts. Case B is a patient who was diagnosed with first-episode psychotic depression and admitted for 10 days. Her medications on admission were fluphenazine decanoate 25 mg depot injection once, olanzapine 10 mg tablet daily, and fluoxetine 20 mg capsule daily. On discharge, ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet every 12 hours for 5 days and fluconazole 150 mg capsule once were added to her medications for the treatment of a urinary tract infection. She reported back to the hospital a day after discharge with complaints of restlessness, “seizures,” tremor, abdominal discomfort, and weight gain. Both patients were diagnosed with akathisia using ICD-10 classification and the Barnes akathisia rating scale and managed with anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and beta blockers. Other measures employed in managing the akathisia included reducing the dose of the antipsychotic and/or switching antipsychotics. Despite these management measures, the symptoms of akathisia persisted and only resolved after 4weeks. Upon the resolution of symptoms, Case A continued treatment on olanzapine 5 mg tablet daily and fluoxetine 20 mg capsule daily while Case B continued treatment on risperidone 2 mg tablet daily and fluoxetine 20 mg capsule daily. Using Naranjo’s adverse drug reaction causality assessment scale, Medscape drug interaction checker, and literature review, a possible and probable case of drug-drug-induced akathisia was made for Case A and Case B. This report is to create more awareness about psychotropic-antimicrobial-induced akathisia. The information underpins the need for health professionals to consider adverse drug-drug interactions as the probable cause of extrapyramidal side effects experienced by patients on antipsychotics.

Cardiovascular Risks of Fluphenazine in a Patient With Schizophrenia

Objective: Patients with psychiatric illnesses are at an increased risk for heart disease, and many antipsychotic medications elicit adverse effects on the heart. This report summarizes conduction abnormalities manifested as chest pain when a patient is treated with fluphenazine decanoate. Case Summary: A 61-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation presented complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath with moderate T-wave abnormality detected on electrocardiogram. The patient recently initiated fluphenazine decanoate intramuscular injection while continuing oral fluphenazine as directed. Discussion: Utilizing the Naranjo algorithm, the cardiac conduction abnormality was determined to be a possible adverse event associated with fluphenazine use. This was based on recent initiation and increasing dose of fluphenazine and documented association of antipsychotics and risk of Torsades de Pointes. Conclusions: While it is known that fluphenazine decanoate can cause extrapyramidal adverse effects, this case demonstrates that it may also play a role in causing or exacerbating cardiovascular adverse events. Continued cardiovascular monitoring after starting fluphenazine decanoate is warranted.