Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is that creepy, crawly sensation that keeps you awake night after night as you fight the need to move your legs. This disorder often strikes people in the fifty-year-old and older age group, but others may have suffered with it since childhood.
RLS causes misery, sleepless nights, depression and sleep deprivation. Night after night, sufferers seek relief, moving their legs, having hot baths, cold baths, massage, pain relievers, and pacing the floor.
According to study results presented at the 9th International Congress of the Movement Disorder Society, a once-daily dose regimen of pramipexole improved Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) symptoms for a 24-hour period and produced significant improvements in patients sleep.
Pramipexole, usually sold under the brand name Mirapex, is a new dopamine receptor agonist, a drug that bind to and activate dopamine receptors. Dopamine receptors are Cell-surface proteins that bind dopamine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. It's usually prescribed for Parkinson's disease.
This isn't the first of the drugs used for Parkinson's disease that has proved effective in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. Others include ropinirole and pergolide. Ropinarole (sold under the brand name Requip) and pergolide are dopamine type drugs.
RLS affects up to 10 percent of the adult population, but currently, there are no medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of RLS.
Restless legs syndrome usually worsens during the evening and night disrupting sleep. Although movement temporarily relieves symptoms, they return and the resulting sleep disruption can lead to sleep deprivation and excessive daytime sleepiness, causing problems in work and social situation.
Research into treatment for the condition. So far, the Parkinson type drugs hold the most promise.
