Augmentation of restless legs syndrome with long-term tramadol treatment.

Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) augmentation, defined as a kind of suppression of the circadian rhythm of the disease in which sensory and motor symptoms appear earlier during the day (and over previously unaffected body parts), with a progressive phase advance until, backwards, the symptoms may cover the entire day, has been described only after treatment with dopaminergic drugs. We report clinical and polysomnographic accounts of a patient developing RLS augmentation after long-term treatment with tramadol, an opioid agonist with selectivity for mu-receptor and added norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition properties. Polysomnographic measures showed an improvement of RLS and a disappearance of diurnal sensory and motor RLS symptoms after tramadol was stopped. Our case confirms a recent retrospective report of augmentation of RLS after treatment with tramadol, and begs the question whether augmentation is truly restricted to dopaminergic drugs.

• Authors: Roberto Vetrugno, Chiara La Morgia, Roberto D'Angelo, Daniela Loi, Federica Provini, Giuseppe Plazzi, Pasquale Montagna
• Journal: Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society (Mov Disord) Vol. 22 Issue 3 Pg. 424-7 (Feb 15 2007) ISSN: 0885-3185 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17230457 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Tramadol

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Analgesics, Opioid (adverse effects)
• Drug Synergism
• Electroencephalography
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Paresthesia (drug therapy)
• Polysomnography
• Restless Legs Syndrome (chemically induced)
• Tramadol (adverse effects)