Which medication is a common treatment for neuroleptic malignant syndrome?

Dantrolene is a common treatment for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) because it acts as a muscle relaxant by inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle. This action helps to reduce the severe muscle rigidity and hyperthermia associated with NMS. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening reaction that can occur with the use of antipsychotic medications, characterized by symptoms like high fever, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic dysregulation.

While lithium, haloperidol, and fluoxetine are medications associated with psychiatric disorders, they are not indicated for the management of NMS. In fact, haloperidol is an antipsychotic that can potentially exacerbate NMS. Fluoxetine is an SSRI used primarily for depression and anxiety, and lithium is used for mood stabilization in bipolar disorder. Thus, these medications do not address the specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neuroleptic malignant syndrome, making dantrolene the appropriate choice for treatment.