title: [When the legs have to keep moving at night--the restless legs syndrome].
abstract: The restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a frequently occurring neurological disease that is often associated with sleep disorders and reduced quality of life. The cause of RLS still has not been clearly established; however, the dopaminergic and opioid systems and iron metabolism appear to have major roles in the disease. The therapy of choice is treatment with dopaminergic drugs. In addition, opiates and anticonvulsants such as gabapentin are used. The most important side effect of dopaminergic therapy is augmentation. If therapy-related augmentation occurs while taking levodopa, the medication should be changed to dopamine agonists. If augmentation occurs while taking dopamine agonists, opiates or gabapentin should be taken instead.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Klinische Neurophysiologie, Klinikum Bremen-Ost.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanz
authors.forename: Svenja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Happe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007980:Levodopa; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin