There have been periodic case reports of sudden death due to aspiration
or asphyxiation in patients receiving phenothiazines. The mechanism of
death is unknown. The author reports a case of a drug-induced bulbar
palsy-like syndrome in a man receiving fluphenazine enanthate and reviews
the literature on sudden respiratory death and phenothiazines. He
postulates that phenothiazine-induced bulbar palsy may cause laryngeal
and/or pharyngeal dysfunctions that are responsible for aspiration.Abstract Teaser