title: [The restless legs syndrome can be treated with dopamine agonists].
abstract: In three patients, a man aged 46 years and two women aged 74 and 38 years, respectively, restless legs syndrome (RLS) was diagnosed. The second patient had a low serum ferritin concentration. The patients were successfully treated with ropirinol, iron suppletion and gabapentine, and pramipexol, respectively. With a prevalence of 7% in the general population, RLS is a frequent disease. Patients complain about unpleasant feelings in the legs and have an urge to move the legs, causing discomfort during rest. Sleep is disturbed significantly, which interferes with normal functioning of the patients during the day. RLS may be caused by anaemia, uraemia or as a side effect of drugs such as selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), lithium and tricyclic antidepressants. RLS can be treated successfully by dopaminergic agents, especially dopamine agonists.
authors.affiliation: Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, afd III. m.aramideh@mca.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aramideh
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: de Weerd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007501:Iron; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors