What specific side effect can occur with the use of haloperidol?

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening side effect associated with the use of haloperidol, which is a typical antipsychotic medication. This syndrome is characterized by symptoms such as hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic dysfunction. The precise mechanism behind NMS is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the dopaminergic blockade that these antipsychotic medications exert on the central nervous system.

Haloperidol can lead to disturbances in the pathways that regulate body temperature and muscle control, which contributes to the onset of NMS. Given that this condition requires immediate medical attention and intervention, it is crucial for healthcare providers to recognize the risk factors and symptoms early in patients under treatment with haloperidol.

The other options, while they may have associations with different medications or conditions, do not specifically relate to haloperidol in the same critical manner as NMS. For example, weight loss is not a prominent side effect of haloperidol; instead, it is more often associated with other types of medications or psychiatric disorders. Retinal deposits are more commonly linked to another antipsychotic called thioridazine. Bradycardia, while a