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Therapeutics
Gabapentin improved sensory and motor symptoms in the restless legs syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.8.4.117

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    (2002) Neurology 59, 1573. Garcia-Borreguero D, Larrosa O, de la Llave Y, et al.. Treatment of restless legs syndrome with gabapentin: a double-blind, cross-over study.. ;. :. –9.
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 QUESTION: In patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS), is gabapentin more effective than placebo for improving sensory and motor symptoms?

    Design

    13 week randomised (allocation concealed*), blinded (clinicians and patients),* placebo controlled, crossover trial.

    Setting

    Madrid, Spain.

    Patients

    24 patients who were 33–75 years of age (mean age 55 y, 67% women) and were diagnosed with idiopathic RLS (established by the International RLS Study Group). Patients with ferritin concentrations <20 μg/ml were excluded. 21 patients (88%) completed the study.

    Intervention

    Patients were allocated to sequence 1 (gabapentin followed by placebo) or sequence 2 (placebo followed by gabapentin). Gabapentin was given at an initial dose of 600 mg/day, up to a maximum dose of 2400 mg/day. The sequences lasted 6 weeks with a 1 week washout period, and then patients …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: Pfizer SA, Spain.

    • For correspondence: Dr D Garcia-Borreguero, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain. dgarciaborreguero{at}fjd.es

    • Abstract and commentary also appear in ACP Journal Club.

    • ↵* See glossary.