Ropinirole is effective in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. TREAT RLS 2: a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition with significant impact on sleep and quality of life (QoL). This double-blind, randomized, 12-week, multinational study compared the efficacy and safety of ropinirole and placebo in RLS. In total, 267 outpatients with moderate-to-severe RLS were randomly assigned to ropinirole (0.25-4.0 mg/day) or placebo, 1 to 3 hours before bedtime. The primary endpoint was the change in International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) score at week 12. Key secondary endpoints were the percentage of patients showing significant improvement on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale at week 12 and changes in IRLS and CGI-I scale scores at week 1. Other measures included the Medical Outcomes Study sleep scale and Restless Legs Syndrome Quality of Life questionnaire. Improvements were significantly greater for ropinirole than placebo for change in IRLS score at week 12 (-11.2 [SE 0.76] vs. -8.7 [0.75], respectively; adjusted treatment difference -2.5 [95% confidence interval [CI], -4.6, -0.4], P = 0.0197); all key secondary endpoints; sleep and QoL parameters. Adverse events were typical for dopamine agonists; disease augmentation, although not directly assessed, was not reported during treatment. Ropinirole improves symptoms, associated sleep disturbance, and QoL of RLS patients and is generally well tolerated.
Walters
Arthur S
AS
New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center, Edison, New Jersey 08818, USA. artumdnj@aol.com
Ondo
William G
WG
Dreykluft
Tilman
T
Grunstein
Ron
R
Lee
Daniel
D
Sethi
Kapil
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole