Clozapine body temperature

Clozapine often causes a benign transient increase in body temperature early in treatment (204). 

The presentation of neuroleptic malignant syndrome with clozapine can be different from that associated with traditional neuroleptic drugs (SEDA-28, 66), and the authors of a recent report have pointed out the differential diagnosis with heat stroke, a medical emergency with the two cardinal features of raised core body temperature (40° C) and central nervous system dysfunction, which is fatal in up to 50% of cases (205). 

Other autonomic effects of antipsychotic drugs are probably mediated by the hypothalamus, such as an impairment of the body s abihty to regulate temperature. Clozapine can induce moderate elevations of body temperature that can be confusing clinically central effects on temperatme regulation and cardiovascular and respiratory function probably contribute to the featmes of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (see Table 18-1). 

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