Gabapentin for Restless Legs Syndrome

Continuing in the same vein, here is another treatment for RLS.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14504416?dopt=Abstract

Gabapentin was similarly effective and just as well tolerated as ropinirole. Ropinirole will be joining the generic group later this year. Just another option.

Also, gabapentin was very good for RLS in dialysis patients and is my favorite in that category.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11431189?dopt=Abstract

Carbamazepine for Restless Legs Syndrome

Carbamazepine has had some bad press lately due to the association of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis with the HLA allele HLA B*1502.

But this pharmaceutical has many excellent uses. One of the lesser known is for restless legs syndrome.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6419958?dopt=Abstract

In this placebo controlled study, carbamazepine was more effective than placebo at p <0.03, which is pretty good data for a study of that era. Reading between the lines, the patients who responded best probably would have had low ferritin levels.

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Is it true? Is it important? I'll report, you decide! Or, vice versa if you wish!

This is my blog of amazing things I have seen and read in my over 30 years of practice of Neurology.

If I tell any stories, the details will be changed to protect patient confidentiality. If you respond to my posts, please do the same.

The main purpose of this blog is to bring up interesting studies and stories for discussion. Are they reproducable? Who knows! I just hope they will be thought provoking!