An overview of levodopa in the management of restless legs syndrome in a dialysis population: pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and complications of therapy

OBJECTIVE: To review published literature investigating the efficacy and safety of levodopa in the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS), with emphasis on the hemodialysis population. DATA SOURCES: An English-language literature search using MEDLINE was conducted from 1966 to 1997 (key terms: r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of Pharmacotherapy 1999-01, Vol.33 (1), p.86-92
Main Authors: Janzen, L, Rich, JA, Vercaigne, LM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Trials as Topic
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications
Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy
Levodopa - adverse effects
Levodopa - pharmacokinetics
Levodopa - therapeutic use
Medical sciences
MEDLINE
Miscellaneous
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Renal Dialysis
Restless Legs Syndrome - complications
Restless Legs Syndrome - drug therapy
Syndrome
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: To review published literature investigating the efficacy and safety of levodopa in the management of restless legs syndrome (RLS), with emphasis on the hemodialysis population. DATA SOURCES: An English-language literature search using MEDLINE was conducted from 1966 to 1997 (key terms: restless legs syndrome, levodopa, hemodialysis). The bibliographies of all identified published articles were reviewed and cross-referenced to ensure that all possible references were identified. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All identified human studies investigating the use of levodopa for the management of RLS in uremic and nonuremic patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of RLS is 20–40% in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and approximately 5% in the general population. Although the benefits of levodopa/(carbidopa/ benserazide) in reducing the signs and symptoms of RLS are documented in nonuremic patients, evidence in patients with ESRD is less readily available. Three small (
ISSN:1060-0280
1542-6270
DOI:10.1345/aph.18024