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Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(05): 213-214
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-105442
Letter to the Editor
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Reversible Hypothermia in a Drug-naive Inpatient with Alzheimer’s Disease Receiving Pipamperone

D. Kamp
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
M. Paschali
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
C. Lange-Asschenfeldt
1   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
25 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening side effect of antipsychotic drugs, especially those with strong 5-HT2 antagonist properties. However, the exact underlying mechanism is still under debate. We discuss a case of hypothermia following pipamperone treatment in an elderly female inpatient with Alzheimer’s disease, which occurred at day 4 after medication onset and vanished after dose reduction. Thus, this case demonstrates 1) the importance of monitoring body temperature even in low-potency antipsychotics, at least in the elderly, and 2) that in some cases, dose reduction may be a sufficient countermeasure.

Key words

hypothermia - pipamperone - dementia - alzheimer’s disease
 

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