Treatment of restless legs syndrome with gabapentin

Gabapentin is a well tolerated anticonvulsant, structurally related to gamma-aminobutyric acid, with an unknown mechanism of action. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder characterized by sensory and motor symptoms in the legs that is best treated with dopaminergic drugs and opiates. In this open-label study, eight patients with RLS were treated with gabapentin. Four of the eight had a beneficial response, three with almost complete resolution of symptoms for up to 6 months. For a disorder that is often difficult to treat, these results are encouraging, and they suggest that a placebo-controlled trial is warranted.