Pharmacologic Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome

Qing       Lv; Xinlin       Wang; Tetsuya       Asakawa; Xiao    Ping    Wang
Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)/Willis-Ekbom disease is a neurologic disorder characterized by a strong desire to move when at rest (usually in the evening) and paraesthesia in their lower legs. The most widely used therapies for first-line treatment of RLS are dopaminergic drugs; however, their long-term use can lead to augmentation. α2δ Ligands, opioids, iron, glutamatergic drugs, adenosine, and sleep aids have been investigated as alternatives. The pathogenesis of RLS is not well understood. Despite the efficacy of dopaminergic drugs in the treatment of this disorder, unlike in Parkinson’s disease dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra has not been observed in RLS. The etiology of RLS is likely complex, involving multiple neural pathways. RLS-related genes identified in genome-wide association studies can provide insight into the mechanistic basis and pathophysiology of RLS. Here we review the current treatments and knowledge of the mechanisms underlying RLS.
Keywords: Restless legs syndrome, dopaminergic drugs, nondopaminergic drugs, mechanisms, genetic factors, augmentation.
Graphical Abstract

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Cite As
Current Neuropharmacology

Pharmacologic Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome

Abstract

Graphical Abstract
