Comparison of Pregabalin with Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome

This trial assessed the efficacy of and iatrogenic worsening (augmentation) with pregabalin and pramipexole in patients with RLS. Pregabalin improved symptoms, as compared with placebo, and augmentation rates with pregabalin were lower than with pramipexole. Moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome (RLS), now also known as Willis–Ekbom disease, with its predominantly nocturnal, rest-induced, distressing urge to move the legs, is a significant but poorly recognized and undertreated health problem. 1 Clinically significant RLS, which affects 2 to 3% of the European and American populations, 2 , 3 profoundly disrupts sleep, quality of life, and daytime productivity and often requires treatment for years, if not for life. Levodopa 4 and short-acting dopamine agonists (pramipexole and ropinirole) 5 , 6 relieve RLS symptoms. 7 , 8 In patients treated with dopamine agonists, RLS can worsen over several years. 9 This worsening results in symptoms that are both more . . .