Olanzapine-induced choreoathetoid movements in a young patient of schizophrenia

Abstract

Atypical antipsychotics like olanzapine are used in the management of schizophrenia due to their lower propensity to cause extrapyramidal symptoms. Yet, few case reports have suggested that olanzapine may cause tardive dystonia, dyskinesia, and oculogyric crisis. However, olanzapine has been never reported to induce nonrhythmic choreoathetoid movements in an adolescent patient within short periods of consumption. Here, we report a novel case of choreoathetoid movements with history of olanzapine consumption for 2 years. The patient presented with involuntary bilateral movements affecting her entire body for the past 4 months, and a diagnosis of olanzapine-induced choreoathetoid movements was made after excluding other neurological and inherited causes by performing necessary investigations. After olanzapine was tapered and stopped, the patient improved and has been subsequently maintained on clozapine. Thus, constant monitoring for movement disorders is needed, particularly in patients with risk factors, even with atypical antipsychotics like olanzapine, and this must play a vital role in management.