Summary
A double-blind randomized crossover study of 0.125 mg Pergolide (Lilly®) at bedtime versus 250 mg L-Dopa + Carbidopa (Roche®) was conducted in 16-day phases in 11 patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome. Two patients reported a partial and 9 patients a complete relieve of motor restlessness while receiving Pergolide. Only 1 patient experienced an improvement of restlessness after L-Dopa. The patients showed polysomnographically a mean decrease in NMS cluster disturbed time by 45% from control on L-Dopa (p < 0.025) and by 79% from control on Pergolide (p < 0.001). In addition, Pergolide increased the total sleep time compared to L-Dopa (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the dopamine agonist Pergolide is superior to L-Dopa in the treatment of RLS and NMS.
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Staedt, J., Waβmuth, F., Ziemann, U. et al. Pergolide: treatment of choice in restless legs syndrome (RLS) and nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS). A double-blind randomized crossover trial of pergolide versus L-Dopa. J. Neural Transmission 104, 461–468 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01277664
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01277664