Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a patient with Parkinson's disease: a case study.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially lethal condition that has been described in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) after long-term dopaminergic medications are suddenly stopped or moderately decreased. If patients with PD develop severe rigidity, stupor, and hyperthermia, L-Dopa withdrawal should be suspected and the dopaminergic drug restarted as soon as possible to prevent rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. Nurses who are knowledgeable about NMS can provide prompt identification of the PD patient's condition and prevent a potentially lethal cascade of symptoms.