Symptoms can include any or all of the following:
- Fever
- Goose bumps
- Flushing
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction
- Headache
- Profuse sweating
- Blurry vision
- Anxiety
- Nasal congestion
- Muscle spasm
Sometimes, despite a dangerous rise in blood pressure, no symptoms are present.
Signs and tests
- High blood pressure
- Slow
pulse or fast pulse
A complete neurological and medical examination must be performed. Patients must provide an accurate medication and drug history in order to help determine which tests are necessary.
Tests may include:
- Brain pictures including head CT or MRI
- Spine pictures, particularly MRI
- Lumbar puncture
- Blood and urine tests
- Toxicology screening (tests for any drugs, including medications, in the patient's bloodstream)
- X-rays
- EKG (measurement of the heart's electrical activity)
- Tilt-table testing (testing of blood pressure regulation as body position changes)
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