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A double‐blind randomized crossover trial of bromocriptine and placebo in restless legs syndrome
Author(s) -
Walters Arthur S.,
Hening Wayne A.,
Kavey Neil,
Chokroverty Sudhansu,
GidroFrank Steve
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410240318
Subject(s) - bromocriptine , restless legs syndrome , bedtime , placebo , crossover study , dopamine agonist , medicine , anesthesia , randomized controlled trial , psychology , insomnia , dopamine , psychiatry , prolactin , dopaminergic , alternative medicine , pathology , hormone
A double‐blind randomized crossover study of 7.5 mg bromocriptine at bedtime versus placebo was conducted in 30‐day phases (with a 2‐week washout period between phases) in 6 patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome. Five patients experienced partial subjective improvement in restlessness and paresthesias on bromocriptine as opposed to placebo and expressed a desire to continue on the medication. On bromocriptine, the patients showed polysomnographically a mean Decemberrease of 43% from control and a mean Decemberrease of 57% from placebo in the number of periodic movements of sleep per hour of sleep ( p < 0.025). Two of 3 patients with abnormally Decemberreased total sleep time and sleep efficiency showed an improvement in these measures on therapy. The dopamine agonist bromocriptine may be a useful therapy in some patients with restless legs syndrome.