Pregabalin for the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS).



A search of the MEDLINE database (1956-February 2016) and EMBASE (1957-February 2016) was conducted, using the terms pregabalin and restless legs syndrome In addition, a manual review of the references cited in each publication identified from the database search was conducted to identify relevant articles.



All English-language, peer-reviewed publications were evaluated for relevance. From an initial review of 285 articles, 5 clinical trials were included in the final analysis.



Pregabalin is an analog of γ-aminobutyric acid that exhibits antinociceptive and anticonvulsant activity by binding to voltage-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system. Studies of pregabalin have demonstrated efficacy through significant reductions in mean International RLS Scale scores and wake after sleep onset scores, and it had a lower rate of augmentation than pramipexole treatment. Study durations ranged from 6 to 52 weeks, with doses ranging from 150 to 600 mg daily. The most common adverse effects associated with pregabalin use in all studies included dizziness and somnolence.



Clinical evidence suggests that pregabalin may improve symptoms of RLS and reduce disturbances in sleep, resulting in improvements in quality of life for patients affected by the disease. Pregabalin is considered to be relatively safe and poses a minimal risk of augmentation unlike current recommended first-line treatments for RLS. Thus, evidence suggests that pregabalin is a reasonable therapeutic option for the treatment of RLS.
Durham VA Medical Center, NC, USA emily_griffin@unc.edu eagriffi21@gmail.com.
Emily
E
Griffin
Durham VA Medical Center, NC, USA.
Jamie N
JN
Brown
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077487:Pramipexole; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D000069583:Pregabalin; D000077487:Pramipexole
Willis-Ekbom Disease; augmentation; periodic limb movements; pregabalin; restless legs syndrome; safety; sleep