Long-term effects of pergolide in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.
An open follow-up of a controlled study in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) shows that the beneficial effect of pergolide on RLS symptoms persists throughout at least 1 year. Twenty-two patients of 28 (78.6%) continued to take pergolide. Polysomnographic measurements showed a persistent improvement of PLM index, PLMS arousal index, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency (p = 0.0001). Side effects, in particular nausea, were common but were well controlled by domperidone in most patients.
Stiasny
K
K
Department of Neurology, Center of Nervous Diseases, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany. stiasny@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Wetter
T C
TC
Winkelmann
J
J
Brandenburg
U
U
Penzel
T
T
Rubin
M
M
Hundemer
H P
HP
Oertel
W H
WH
Trenkwalder
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010479:Pergolide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010479:Pergolide