Management of Augmentation

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Abstract

Augmentation is a major clinical problem that emerges with the long-term treatment of RLS/WED. It can produce a severe exacerbation of RLS/WED symptoms and is thus something to be carefully assessed and managed. Some degree of augmentation has been reported with the use of all investigated dopaminergic drugs, tramadol being the only exception among the non-dopaminergic substances. In the virtual absence of direct comparative studies between dopaminergic agents, the incidence rate seems to be highest during treatment with levodopa and higher for shorter acting (pramipexole, ropinirole) than longer acting (rotigotine, cabergoline) dopamine-receptor agonists. However, it is unclear whether this finding is related to masking of earlier symptom onset by the longer acting dopaminergic agents, or whether this reflects a truly reduced risk of augmentation.

Keywords

Augmentation with dopaminergic drugs Dopaminergic drugs and augmentation Restless legs syndrome and augmentation Tramadol for restless legs syndrome Levodopa for restless legs syndrome 
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© Springer Science+Business Media LLC 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Sleep Research Institute, MadridMadridSpain

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