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Choose treatment for restless legs syndrome based on patient and drug characteristics

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Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS; also known as Willis-Ekbom disease) is a common neurological, sensorimotor disorder. RLS is initially managed with lifestyle modifications, elimination of possible iatrogenic contributors and maintenance of normal-high peripheral iron stores. Moderate-to-severe RLS may be treated with pharmacological therapy, which generally involves the use of α-2-δ ligands (e.g. gabapentin enacarbil, pregabalin, gabapentin) and dopamine agonists (e.g. pramipexole, rotigotine, ropinirole), as well as opioids for treatment-resistant RLS. The chosen drug class/specific drug depends on patient factors (e.g. the most prominent symptoms, comorbidities, age-related issues, preferences) and drug factors (e.g. tolerability profile, augmentation risk).

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  1. Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand

    Esther S. Kim & Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson

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  1. Esther S. Kim
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  2. Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson
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Correspondence to Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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E.S. Kim is a contracted employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature and declares no relevant conflicts of interest. K.A. Lyseng-Williamson is a salaried employee of Adis International/Springer Nature, is an editor of Drugs & Therapy Perspectives, was not involved in any publishing decision for the manuscript, and has no other conflicts of interest to declare. Both authors contributed to the review and are responsible for the article content.

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Kim, E.S., Lyseng-Williamson, K.A. Choose treatment for restless legs syndrome based on patient and drug characteristics. Drugs Ther Perspect 36, 435–439 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-020-00773-3

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