Which medication is commonly used as a muscle relaxant in the treatment of NMS?

Dantrolene is commonly used as a muscle relaxant in the treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). NMS is a life-threatening condition that can occur in patients taking antipsychotic medications, characterized by severe muscle rigidity, elevated temperature, autonomic instability, and altered mental status.

Dantrolene acts by reducing calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscles, leading to muscle relaxation. Its effectiveness in treating the muscle rigidity associated with NMS is well-documented, and it is often one of the first-line treatments alongside supportive care and discontinuation of the offending antipsychotic medication.

While bromocriptine can be used to restore dopamine levels and helps alleviate NMS symptoms, it does not specifically target muscle rigidity as effectively as dantrolene. Valproate and lithium are not typically utilized to manage NMS; instead, they address other psychiatric conditions and do not have a direct role in treating the symptoms of NMS. This makes dantrolene the most appropriate choice for alleviating the muscle rigidity seen in this syndrome.