title: Ropinirole treatment for restless legs syndrome.
abstract: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic neurological disorder associated with sleep disturbance. Ropinirole, a non-ergot dopamine agonist, has been widely studied for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary RLS in a comprehensive clinical development program. In these studies, ropinirole was effective in significantly improving the symptoms of RLS, compared with placebo, in patients with moderate-to-severe primary RLS. These improvements are supported by data from individual studies, as well as by pooled analyses. Significant improvements in RLS symptoms were observed within 2 nights of treatment. Ropinirole also produced significant benefits on objective measures of RLS motor symptoms, such as periodic leg movements; and on subjective measures of sleep, ropinirole was generally well tolerated. A newly developed extended-release formulation of ropinirole may benefit patients who warrant an extended duration of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, J3.134 E, Dallas, Texas 75390-9036, USA. shilpa.chitnis@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chitnis
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole