A drug widely used to treat seizures and anxiety appears to be an effective treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) and helps people with the disorder get a better night’s sleep, according to a study that will be presented as part of the Late-breaking Science Program at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 – May 2, 2009. RLS affects up to one in ten people.

The 12 week study involved 58 people with RLS. Of the group, 30 people received the drug pregabalin and the rest received placebo. Sleep studies were performed at the beginning and end of the research.

Researchers found nearly two-thirds of the people who took pregabalin had no RLS symptoms while taking the drug. For people who still had symptoms, those symptoms had improved by 66 percent while taking the drug, compared to the placebo group where symptoms worsened by 29 percent.

Sleep also improved for those taking pregabalin. The study showed the group spent more time in slow wave sleep, otherwise known as Stage 3 or deep sleep, and they spent less time in the lighter sleep stages known as Stage 1 or Stage 2 sleep compared to those taking placebo.

“Since RLS symptoms get worse at night, it’s difficult for people with RLS to get adequate sleep,” said study author Diego Garcia-Borreguero, MD, Director of the Sleep Research Institute in Madrid, Spain. ”However, our findings show pregabalin helped people get more deep sleep. The drug was well tolerated and is a promising alternative to current treatments because of its superior effects on quality of sleep.”

Pregabalin has been approved for epilepsy, nerve pain, generalized anxiety and fibromyalgia.

RLS is characterized by an urge to move the legs, generally accompanied by unpleasant numbness, tingling, or burning sensations; an increase in symptoms during rest and a partial, temporary relief from symptoms through activity; and a worsening of symptoms in the evening or at night. Symptoms tend to progress with age.

The study was supported by Pfizer Inc.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, narcolepsy, and stroke.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.

The AAN 61st Annual Meeting, the world’s largest gathering of neurology professionals, takes place April 25–May 2, 2009, in Seattle. Visit http://www.aan.com/am for more information.

Editor’s Note:

Dr. Garcia-Borreguero will present this research during a late-breaking science session at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT, on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, in Room 6E at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center

Dr. Garcia-Borreguero will be available for media questions during a press briefing at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT, on Monday, April 27, 2009, in Room 309/310 of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle.

Study authors are available for advance interviews as well.

To access non-late-breaking abstracts to be presented at the 2009 AAN Annual Meeting abstracts, visit http://www.aan.com/go/science/abstracts.

Source: American Academy of Neurology (AAN)