TITLE:
Somnambulism: Varenicline-Induced Sleep Driving
AUTHORS:
Samer Alkhuja, Monika Girgis, Mohammad Ali, Pravinkumar Patel, Olutunde Odeyemi
KEYWORDS:
Varenicline, Sleep Walking, Arousal Parasomnia
JOURNAL NAME:
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
7,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Varenicline, which is derived from the cytisine compound, is used to assess in smoking cessation. Sleep driving (SD) is often classified as a variant of somnambulism. Although, somnambulism has been reported as a side effect of varenicline, varenicline-induced sleep driving (VISD) has not been reported. Case Report: A 56-year-old man with a history of 35 pack year smoking who presented for smoking cessation counseling. Treatment with varenicline was initiated. In the following night, the patient drove to a shopping center and woke up in his car. Varenicline was discontinued. SD has not been reported in the following nights. In a repeated attempt to stop smoking, treatment with varenicline was resumed by the patient. SD reoccurred in the following night. Varenicline was discontinued indefinitely, and SD has not been reported.