Antidepressant medication use and restless legs syndrome in patients presenting with insomnia

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement disorder that frequently results in significant complaints of insomnia. Based on published case reports, it is commonly believed that RLS can be caused or exacerbated by antidepressant agents, thus complicating the treatment of depressed patients who are already prone to sleep disturbances. However, there are no systematic studies demonstrating an association between the clinical diagnosis of RLS and the use of antidepressant medication.

Retrospective chart review of 200 consecutive patients presenting for evaluation of sleep initiation insomnia at an accredited freestanding sleep disorders center that is part of an integrated health care system.

Mean age (+/-SD) of patients was 51.1+/-14.8 years; 60% were women. Fifty-six percent carried a diagnosis of depression, 38% were being treated with antidepressant medication at presentation and 45% met clinical diagnostic criteria for RLS. There were no statistical associations, either by chi(2) analysis or odds ratios, between RLS and antidepressant use or use of any specific class of antidepressant. Positive associations with RLS were found for patients receiving treatment for hypothyroidism and those taking estrogens; a significant negative association was found for patients receiving beta adrenergic antagonists.

Although there are anecdotal reports of antidepressant use causing or exacerbating RLS, systematic study of this issue fails to corroborate an association.