The acute effect of a low dosage of pramipexole on severe idiopathic restless legs syndrome: an open-label trial.
BACKGROUND
Pramipexole is a D3 dopaminergic agonist that has shown a major effect on both sensory and motor manifestations of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in long-term trials. No data regarding the acute effect of low doses of pramipexole have been reported.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acute effect of a low dosage of pramipexole (0.125 mg) on sensory symptoms and motor signs of RLS and on the macro- and microstructure of sleep.


METHODS
We initially recruited 13 patients affected by severe idiopathic RLS and included 10 of them in our study. For 2 consecutive nights the selected patients were evaluated. Pramipexole 0.125 mg was administered before the second night at 9:00 p.m. A visual analog scale was used to assess the sensory symptoms of RLS. The motor manifestations of RLS and the architecture of sleep were analyzed by polysomnography.


RESULTS
After the acute administration of pramipexole, we observed a significant improvement of the sensory symptoms and motor signs of RLS. Several sleep macrostructure and microstructure parameters improved as well.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that low doses of pramipexole are effective in reducing sensory symptoms and motor signs of RLS, even after the first administration.
Merlino
Giovanni
G
Sleep Disorder Centre, Department of Neurology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.
Dolso
Pierluigi
P
Canesin
Roberto
R
Cancelli
Iacopo
I
Valente
Mariarosaria
M
Gigli
Gian Luigi
GL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077487:Pramipexole; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D000077487:Pramipexole