Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a medical emergency and is life threatening. It is a rare side effect of anti-psychotic medications. Symptoms of this syndrome are muscle rigidity, extreme increase in temperature, fluctuating blood pressure and sweating to name a few. Nursing diagnoses for neuroleptic malignant syndrome are formulated based on the symptoms exhibited by a patient.

Respiratory System

The diaphragm is a muscle that is needed for breathing. Rigidity of the diaphragm due to neuroleptic malignant syndrome causes difficulty breathing. This leads to the nursing diagnosis of an ineffective breathing pattern.

Temperature

Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus, which requires dopamine to perform this function. In neuroleptic malignant syndrome, the hypothalamic dopamine receptors are blocked causing hyperthermia. This would lead to the nursing diagnosis of ineffective thermoregulation.

Communication

Impaired verbal communication is a nursing diagnosis for neuroleptic malignant syndrome as evidenced by dysarthria, meaning difficulty speaking. Dysarthria is caused due to muscle rigidity where muscles necessary to move the jaw and tongue for speech are rigid.

Seizures

A person experiencing neuroleptic malignant syndrome may have seizures due to an excessive increase in temperature. During a seizure, a person could be harmed, so the nursing diagnosis is a risk for injury.

Nutrition

Due to muscular rigidity, which is a symptom of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a person may have dysphagia and that is difficulty to swallowing. This may impair the patients ability to consume adequate nutrients. The nursing diagnosis is a risk for imbalance nutrition (less than body requirements is appropriate in this case).