Drugs for Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which you have discomfort in your legs while sleeping or resting, and an uncontrollable urge to move around. Symptoms of RLS vary from person to person but can include a crawling feeling in the legs, a burning sensation or the feeling that someone is pulling on your legs. People who have additional medical conditions such as neuropathy, diabetes or Parkinson's disease are more likely to develop RLS than those without any other medical concerns. Mild symptoms may not require treatment but can be managed through a series of lifestyle adjustments, including eliminating alcohol and caffeine from your diet, and making sure you are getting enough iron in your diet. Moderate to severe symptoms of restless leg syndrome can be relieved through drug therapy. Not every drug approved for RLS will help each person. It may take time to find the right medication for you.

Lyrica

• Medline, a joint service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, reported in April 2009 that Lyrica may relieve symptoms of RLS. Lyrica is already approved for medical conditions such as fibromyalgia and epilepsy and is also prescribed as an anti-anxiety drug. A study by the Sleep Research Institute in Madrid found that close to three-quarters of the people who took Lyrica did not show symptoms of RLS during its research. As of April 2009, the FDA had not approved Lyrica specifically for restless leg syndrome, but many doctors are prescribing it off-label while more research is in the works.

Dopaminergic Drugs

• A class of drugs called dopaminergic agents are a common choice for RLS sufferers. This type of drug is usually used to control tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and has been shown to be effective for RLS symptoms as well. In 2005, ropinirole hydrochloride was the first generic drug to be approved by the FDA to decrease the symptoms of RLS. One side effect that may occur when taking dopaminergic medications for RLS is that you may begin to experience symptoms earlier in the day. This condition is called augmentation.

Benzodiazepines

• Some medications are more effective when RLS symptoms are not constant, but rather in "on-and-off" mode, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Diazepam and clonazepam are drugs in the benzodiazepines category and work better on mild symptoms of RLS. Benzodiazepines are classified as depressants, which is one of the reasons why they are effective. People who have RLS often do not sleep well because of their symptoms. These medications help them sleep better but can also cause grogginess during the day. People who have sleep apnea or other sleep disorders are not candidates for benzodiazepines.

Anti-Convulsants

• The crawling sensation within the legs that is characteristic of restless leg syndrome can be highly disturbing to the sleep cycle and uncomfortable. Anti-convulsant medications commonly used for seizure disorders may be able to help sufferers if this is the primary symptom of RLS. Gabapentin and carbamazepine are two medications in this category that are effective treatments for RLS. Use caution when driving under the influence of anti-convulsant medications, as fatigue and lightheadedness are known side effects of the drugs.

More Potent Drugs

• It is likely that one of the medications within the anti-convulsant, benzodiazepine or dopaminergic groups will help ease your RLS symptoms. If they do not, or if your condition is seriously interfering with your everyday life, your doctor may prescribe one of a number of extremely powerful, and possibly addictive substances to ease your pain. Codeine is perhaps the most common of this group of drugs considered for RLS. Oxycodone and propoxyphene may also be used. All of these medications should be used only on a short-term basis to avoid addiction and unpleasant side effects such as vomiting.