Gabapentin versus levodopa-c for the treatment of restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients : a randomized clinical trial

• Published in: Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 271 - 278
• Main Authors: Afshari, Daryoush, Heidarnejadian, Jafar, Azimi, Hamid, Razazian, Nazanin, Ghadami, Muhammad Rasul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation 01-03-2015; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Amines - therapeutic use; Carbidopa - therapeutic use; Comparative analysis; Complications; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - therapeutic use; Dosage and administration; Drug Combinations; Drug therapy; Gabapentin; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use; Hemodialysis; Hemodialysis patients; Humans; Iran; L-dopa; Levodopa - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity - drug effects; Patients; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Restless legs syndrome; Restless Legs Syndrome - diagnosis; Restless Legs Syndrome - drug therapy; Restless Legs Syndrome - etiology; Restless Legs Syndrome - physiopathology; Sleep - drug effects; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment; Treatment Outcome; الأدوية المضادة للصرع; المرضى; المضاعفات; دوبا; علم المداواة; غسيل الكلى; متلازمة تململ الساقين; Iran; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 1319-2442; 2320-3838
• DOI: 10.4103/1319-2442.152417

To compare the efficacy of gabapentin and levodopa-c (Levodopa / Carbidopa) in reducing restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms and sleep problems in hemodialysis patients with RLS in a four-week randomized clinical trial. The diagnosis of RLS was made using the criteria of the International Restless Legs Study Group. Each subject completed three questionnaires : IRLS questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth sleepiness scale. After four weeks of washout period for previous treatments for RLS, subjects were randomly assigned to four weeks of gabapentin (200 mg) or levodopa-c (110 mg). After four weeks of therapy, the questionnaires administered at the outset of the study were re-administered. Both drugs were found effective for the management of RLS. But, the effect of gabapentin was more significant. Gabapentin significantly improved the IRLS total score (change from baseline to post-treatment ≈–17) compared with levodopa-c (change from baseline to post-treatment ≈–13) (P : 0.016). Regarding sleep parameters, levodopa improved sleep quality, sleep latency and sleep duration (P < 0.0001). Gabapentin was also effective with respect to sleep parameters (P < 0.0001). Our study shows that gabapentin is a safe effective therapy for RLS among hemodialysis patients. This medication may be considered as an alternative or additive treatment to current therapeutic remedies for hemodialysis patients with RLS.