Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), that often onsets with the use of neuroleptics which has no satisfactory treatment is a rare and life-threatening neurological emergency. NMS has some clinical symptoms such as hyperthermia, muscular rigidity, autonomic dysfunction, consciousness disorders and laboratory findings such as higher serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and leukocytosis. Risk factors include adolescent age, male gender, electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, low serum iron level, use of antiemetics, mental retardation, trauma, organic brain syndrome, extrapiramidal disorders (such as Parkinson’s disease), alcoholism and malnutrition. In this article, three cases of NMS who had been treated in the intensive care unit because of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are presented. Also the diagnosis and treatment of NMS have been discussed.

Keywords: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, traumatic brain injury, dopaminergic messages, dantrolene