If you have the irresistible urge to continually move your legs, you may be suffering from restless leg syndrome (RLS). The name may not sound like a real medical condition, but restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects approximately 10 percent of the population, according to the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation. Although there is no cure for this disorder, several different classifications of drugs can help to alleviate the symptoms.
Dopaminergic Agents
Dopaminergic medications, also called dopamine agonists, are a class of drugs that affect the level of dopamine, a chemical messenger, in the brain. Dopamine is important in controlling body movement, because it carries the signals for movement from the brain to the muscles. When the level of dopamine is too low, signals cannot be sent to the muscles, resulting in muscles that are rigid, tense or prone to tremors.
Dopamine agonists, such as ropinirole and pramipexole, help to increase the level of dopamine in the brain. In addition to being approved to treat RLS, these drugs are also effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsant drugs, medications that act on various neurotransmitters in the brain, are used to treat epilepsy and have shown some effectiveness in treating RLS. Although the exact mechanism is not understood, medications such as gabapentin, carbamazepine, primidone and pregabalin may help to relieve symptoms of RLS.
Sedatives
The symptoms of RLS are often more pronounced at night and can be so severe that they interfere with sleep. Taking muscle relaxants or sedatives, such as benzodiazepine, clonazepam, triazolam, eszopiclone, ramelteon, temazepam, zaleplon and zolpidem, can help RLS patients sleep better but will not eliminate the sensations in the legs that they describe as creeping, tugging, pulling or itching.
Pain Relievers
Narcotics, also known as opioids, are classified as pain relievers. These drugs can relieve the symptoms of moderate to severe RLS, according to the Mayo Clinic. Narcotic drugs, such as codeine or oxycodone, work by altering how the pain receptors in the brain receive messages from the nerves throughout the body. Narcotics can be addicting, especially when taken in high doses or taken for long periods of time, so these medications should be taken only under the guidance of your doctor.
