Management Dilemma in Olanzapine Induced Restlessness and Cramps in Legs

which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. TO THE EDITOR Restlessness and cramps in legs is a relatively rare phenomenon with antipsychotic olanzapine. If not evaluated, it may cause misdiagnosis or poor treatment adherence. There is no standard guideline for management of olanza-pine induced restlessness and cramps in legs, though ben-zodiazepines and pro-dopaminergic agents are found to be effective. A 20 year-old male had delusions of persecution, third person auditory hallucinations, inappropriate smiling with fluctuating catatonic symptoms (mutism, negati-vism, posturing, and rigidity) for eight months. Earlier, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was receiving olanzapine 10 mg/day since three months. Intravenous lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy was given to which catatonic symptoms responded. As there was persistence of delusion and hallucinations, olanzapine was increased to 15 mg/day, bedtime. Patient reported cramps in both legs resulting in restless leg movements, 2-3 hours following ingestion of olanzapine in night. To get rid of discomfort and cramps in legs, he used to move his legs and even pound it over the bed desperately. The cramps would persist for 1-2 hours, causing sleep disturbance. As delusions and hallucinations were improved after increasing olanzapine, patient was maintained on same anti-psychotic dose. Management of restlessness and cramps in legs, were attempted with analgesics (started with acet-aminophen 500 mg, when not responded tramadol 50 mg had also been tried); however, it persisted causing significant disturbance of sleep. Thus the dosing of olanza-pine was rescheduled to morning time. But the patient complained of restlessness and cramps in legs even during the daytime, 2-3 hours following intake of olanzapine. After this olanzapine was given in divided doses (7.5 mg twice a day); still the patient was complaining of rest-lessness and cramps in legs. Reduction of dose of olanza-pine reduced the severity of leg cramps, but worsening of psychotic symptoms occurred. Patient was investigated for systemic causes that might attribute to restlessness and cramps in legs. All hematological investigation parameters (complete blood count, general blood picture, liver function test, kidney function test, thyroid function test, serum electrolytes, lipid profile as well as blood sugar) and magnetic resonance imaging of brain were within normal limits. Olanzapine was stopped and the patient was shifted to risperidone (started with 2 mg/day and gradually built up to 6 mg/day over a week). The patient was evaluated on Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale (score …