Restless Legs Syndrome News and Research

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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.

The most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their job, personal relations, and activities of daily living are strongly affected as a result of their exhaustion. They are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks.

Restless legs syndrome and insomnia: a possible explanation

Johns Hopkins researchers believe they may have discovered an explanation for the sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS), a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

7 May 2013

Sleep deprivation could affect academic performance of college students

As fall semesters wind down at the country's colleges and universities, students will be pulling all-night study sessions to prepare for final exams. Ironically, the loss of sleep during these all-nighters could actually work against them performing well, says a Harris Health System sleep specialist.

22 Nov 2012

Periodicity Index limits variability when measuring restless legs

The Periodicity Index is a more stable measure of leg movements during sleep in restless legs syndrome than the widely used periodic leg movements index, investigators have found.

16 Nov 2012

Modus Five launches Sleep Disorder: a Patient Education Multimedia Course

Modus Five has launched a new educational and user-friendly multimedia software program called Sleep Disorder: a Patient Education Multimedia Course. The software program presents helpful information by using rich graphics, interactive content, videos and animations.

6 Sep 2012

UCB’s Neupro now available in U.S. pharmacies

UCB announced today that Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System) is now available in U.S. pharmacies. Neupro was approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration in April to treat the signs and symptoms of early and advanced stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease and moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome.

16 Jul 2012

Regnite to treat primary restless legs syndrome launched in Japan

Astellas Pharma Inc. and XenoPort, Inc. announced today that Regnite (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets will be launched in Japan on July 10, 2012. Regnite is approved in Japan for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS).

9 Jul 2012

XenoPort first quarter revenues increase to $10.4 million

XenoPort, Inc. announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. Revenues for the quarter were $10.4 million, compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2011.

3 May 2012

UCB receives FDA approval for Neupro to treat idiopathic Parkinson's, RLS

UCB announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of advanced stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and as a treatment for moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome.

3 Apr 2012

Roaring snores could be sounds of obstructive sleep apnea

Roaring snores that rumble a room or violent snorts for breath during sleep could be sounds of obstructive sleep apnea. While a true diagnosis is only possible with a sleep study, if left untreated, the sleep disorder could be fatal.

28 Mar 2012

Sleep disorders cost the economy billions

New figures reveal that sleep disorders are costing the Australian economy more than $5.1 billion each year. The staggering amount covers health costs and loss of productivity for the more than 1.5 million workers suffering from sleep disorders including sleep apnea and insomnia.

3 Feb 2012

Impax commences IPX159 Phase IIb trial in Restless Legs Syndrome

Impax Pharmaceuticals, the branded products division of Impax Laboratories, Inc., announced that it has initiated a Phase IIb trial of its drug candidate IPX159 in patients with moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome.

20 Dec 2011

Patients with Parkinson's may have increased risk of leg motor restlessness

People with Parkinson's disease may be more likely to have a movement disorder called leg motor restlessness, but not true restless legs syndrome as previous studies have suggested, according to a study published in the November 9, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Nov 2011

Restless legs syndrome linked to hypertension

Up to 15 percent of the population has restless legs syndrome. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by crawling sensations and repeated muscle twichings in one or both legs, and an uncontrollable urge to move them - which may compel a person to walk in circles for hours at night.

12 Oct 2011

Middle-aged woman with RLS more likely to develop hypertension

If you're a middle-aged woman with Restless Legs Syndrome, you may have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, according to new research reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Oct 2011

Essential criteria for clinical diagnosis of restless legs syndrome

We've all experienced abnormal sensations in our legs at one time or another, but for as many as 10 percent of the US population, restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a daily occurrence. Characterized by throbbing, pulling, tingling, itching, and crawling sensations, RLS is a neurological disorder that produces unpleasant physical sensations in the extremities and an urge to counteract that sensation by movement.

21 Jul 2011

New study finds drug's side effect labeling have ballooned in size

The lists of potential side effects that accompany prescription drugs have ballooned in size, averaging 70 reactions per drug, a number that can overwhelm physicians trying to select suitable treatments for their patients, according to a new study of drug labels.

24 May 2011

Impax Pharmaceuticals initiates IPX159 Phase I study in Restless Legs Syndrome

Impax Pharmaceuticals, the branded products division of Impax Laboratories, Inc., announced the successful filing of an Investigational New Drug Application for IPX159 in Restless Legs Syndrome and initiated a Phase I study.

11 May 2011

Patients with RLS more likely to develop cardiovascular conditions

Results from a two-year retrospective cohort study presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Hawaii, U.S., showed that patients were significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, cardiac dysrhythmias and chronic ischemic heart diseases after an initial diagnosis of RLS, as compared to controls without RLS.

15 Apr 2011

GlaxoSmithKline, XenoPort receive FDA approval for Horizant to treat RLS

On April 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Horizant Extended Release Tablets, a once-daily treatment for moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome.

8 Apr 2011

FDA approves Horizant Extended-Release Tablets for Restless Legs Syndrome

GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort, Inc. announced Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Horizant™ (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome in adults. Horizant is not recommended for patients who are required to sleep during the daytime and remain awake at night.

7 Apr 2011