Medications for Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome causes sensations in your legs that can be uncomfortable or painful, which can make you want to move your legs for relief. Read on to learn more about medication that may help.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes restless leg syndrome, but common hypotheses point to the brain. Restless leg syndrome could be caused by:

• disruption in the function of dopamine
• brain iron deficiency (BID)
• dysfunctions in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and adenosine

The changes in these chemicals may cause the involuntary movement that’s typical of restless legs syndrome.

Certain drugs can help treat the symptoms of restless legs syndrome by acting like the chemicals in this pathway or by helping these chemicals function normally.

The drugs that are used first to treat restless legs syndrome most often include ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine. The drug gabapentin enacarbil is also used, but usually only when the other drugs don’t provide relief.

Ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine

How do they work?

Ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine belong to the class of drugs called Dopamine agonists such as ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine mimic the effects of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is one of the chemicals in the nerve pathway of the brain that controls voluntary movements. These drugs may help dopamine work better to control the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Dopamine agonists should be used for short-term treatment. Long-term use of these drugs

What forms do they come in?

Ropinirole is available as the brand-name drugs Requip and Requip XL. Pramipexole is available as the brand-name drugs Mirapex and Mirapex ER. Rotigotine is available as the brand-name drug Neupro. Ropinirole and pramipexole are also available as generic drugs. Rotigotine is not.

What are the side effects?

Side effects of ropinirole, pramipexole, or rotigotine include drowsiness, nausea or vomiting and dizziness. A less common side effect is Impulse control disorder (ICD). Those with ICD are unable to resist the urge to do something harmful to themselves or others. This will subside once the dopamine agonist treatment is stopped. If you have an allergy to sulfites, you shouldn’t take rotigotine. You will most likely be allergic to it.

Gabapentin enacarbil

How does it work?

The chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is also in the nerve pathway of your brain that controls voluntary movements. Recent research has suggested that GABA doesn’t work normally in people with restless legs syndrome. Gabapentin enacarbil is a newer drug that’s been studied less than the dopamine agonists. It may be used in people who don’t respond to dopamine agonists or who can’t take them.

What form does it come in?

Gabapentin enacarbil is available as an extended-release oral tablet. It’s only available as the brand-name drug Horizant. It isn’t available as a generic drug.