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I am a recent survivor of NMS. As my husband Fred Krebs wrote in mid-March, 2000, I was rushed to the hospital with renal failure, low blood pressure, 104-5' temperature brought on by increasingly violent dyskinesias over a two-day period. I was in ICU for 5 days, acute care for over 3 weeks, and a nursing home for 2 weeks. i am in the 3rd week of "home" recovery. Fortunately, my renal function was not permanently damaged I am however quite weak which affects my ability to walk and to work at any task for a sustained period. Also, I have great discomfort from a tight, often constricted, throat and swelling in mouth and throat. Fred and I are working on a more complete summary of my case which we hope to post in a few days. I feel lucky to be alive! Barbara Blake-Krebs 59/44 Merriam KS [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] In a message dated 5/7/00 PM, Joe Bruman writes: << BUT, PWP should be extremely concerned and aware of a syndrome usually described as "like" (read: indistinguishable from) NMS, associated not with neuroleptics per se but with *abrupt reduction or withdrawal* of drugs that aren't neuroleptics, including some used to treat PD. I choose to call this "abrupt withdrawal syndrome" (AWS). Very rare, to be sure, but it only needs to happen once. I haven't checked all the PD drugs that have been associated with AWS, but offhand I recall amantadine (Symmetrel), tolcapone (Tasmar), and carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet). I would urge PWP to look up any drug they may be taking, in an authoritative reference such as the PDR, to see if AWS (my term) has been reported for that drug. If so, and if sudden withdrawal becomes necessary, it should be monitored by a qualified professional. Cheers, Joe -- J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013 >>