Possible varenicline withdrawal-induced akathisia: A case report

Abstract

Akathisia is a relatively common adverse effect that may emerge during treatment with antipsychotics and other medication classes. We present a case of akathisia that may have been induced by the abrupt discontinuation of varenicline and review existing literature related to this phenomenon. A 46-year-old female with a past psychiatric history of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder was admitted to the acute psychiatric services department for suicidal ideation after 3 weeks of a new course of varenicline. This was prescribed for smoking cessation and titrated to 1 mg twice daily. Upon admission, the varenicline was discontinued. Roughly 3 days later, the patient began to complain of akathisia. The patient had experienced akathisia previously while taking antipsychotics for her bipolar disorder and was able to recognize its emergence. As the akathisia worsened, propranolol 10 mg 3 times daily was ordered and was effective in relieving her symptoms. A PubMed search using the terms varenicline, akathisia, withdrawal, and discontinuation was conducted. No literature of this phenomenon was found; however, reports of other extrapyramidal symptoms were noted. Considering the timing of varenicline's discontinuation and its mechanism, a pharmacological link between its use and akathisia is possible. Akathisia is a severely uncomfortable sequela of medications that may produce severe outcomes, such as suicidal ideation. In this case, it is possible that the discontinuation of varenicline after 3 weeks of therapy led to akathisia, which was successfully treated with propranolol.