[Acute-onset extrapyramidal syndromes caused by drugs].
In childhood, several drugs are the cause of acute extrapyramidal syndromes which are true medical emergencies. In the course of one year out of 321 children with acute poisoning, 49 (14.9%) showed these side effects. The responsible drugs were mainly the phenothiazines and haloperidol; only in two cases the metoclopramide. The extrapyramidal syndromes were characterized by akathisia, dyskinesia with dystonic reactions, parkinsonism and akinesia. Diphenhydramine has shown to be useful in treating acute extrapyramidal disturbances when used intravenously followed by oral administration.