title: Acute double-blind, placebo-controlled sleep laboratory and clinical follow-up studies with a combination treatment of rr-L-dopa and sr-L-dopa in restless legs syndrome.
abstract: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized crossover trial, the acute efficacy of a combination treatment of 100 mg regular-release (rr) and 100 mg sustained-release (sr) L-dopa/benserazide in RLS was investigated by means of sleep laboratory methods, with a subsequent open clinical follow-up for 4 weeks. 21 RLS patients classified according to ICSD and IRLSSG criteria were included; 18 completed the study. Objective sleep quality was determined by polysomnography (PSG) in 3 subsequent nights (adaptation/screening, placebo and drug night), subjective sleep and awakening quality was evaluated by rating scales, objective awakening quality by psychometric tests. Clinical follow-up consisted of daily ratings of subjective sleep and awakening quality (SSA) and VAS for RLS symptomatology ratings, completion of the RLS (IRLSSG) Scale weekly and the Zung Depression (SDS) and Anxiety (SAS) Scale, Quality of Life Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale before and after therapy. Acute L-dopa/benserazide significantly (p < 0.001) and markedly (75%) decreased the target variable PLM/h of sleep as well as all other RLS/PLM variables, but failed to improve objective sleep efficiency and subjective sleep quality in comparison to placebo. After 4 weeks of therapy, however, subjective sleep and awakening quality also improved significantly. While RLS/PLM measures showed an immediate significant and marked response to the combination therapy subjective sleep quality only improved after chronic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Innsbruck, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saletu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saletu-Zyhlarz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saletu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001545:Benserazide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide