Development of Atypical Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome After Treatment of Cocaine Intoxication: A Case Report and Literature Review

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a life-threatening condition classically associated with the use of antipsychotic medications. NMS commonly presents with initial mental status changes, followed by muscle rigidity, fever, and eventual dysautonomia. Cocaine intoxication can present with symptoms that are very similar to those found in NMS, making differentiating the two disorders challenging. We present the case of a 28-year-old female with a history of cocaine use disorder who presented with acute cocaine intoxication. She had severe agitation associated with her intoxication, requiring the use of antipsychotic medications. Subsequently, she developed atypical NMS from abrupt dopamine withdrawal after receiving the antipsychotics. Although overlapping dopamine pathways between cocaine use and NMS could deter one from this practice and guidelines recommend against it, antipsychotics are routinely used in the emergency setting for cocaine-associated agitation. This case highlights the need for a more standardized treatment protocol, provides an explanation of why treating cocaine intoxication with antipsychotics is inappropriate, and suggests that chronic cocaine users may be more prone to NMS in this scenario. Furthermore, this is a unique case because it describes atypical NMS in the context of cocaine intoxication, chronic cocaine use, and administration of antipsychotics to an antipsychotic-naïve patient.