A Quick Blurb of AFP's "AASM Updates Treatment Guidelines for Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder"

A brief synopsis of :

AASM Updates Treatment Guidelines for Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder BY CARRIE ARMSTRONG

Am Fam Physician. 2013 Feb 15;87(4):290-292.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0215/p290.html?printable=afp

     Restless leg syndrome is this uncontrollable urge to move your legs at night. You may have seen something similar on YouTube, but this has nothing to do with the Harlem hake. The most effective medication for moderate to severe RLS is pramipexole and ropinirole. The side effects (nausea and others) will resolve with stopping the medication. Levodopa can be used with intermittent RLS if daily medication is not recommended. Cabergoline can be used if the other medication are not effective, although cabergoline is not well tolerated. Medications such as gabapentin, pregabalin, carbamazepine, ans clonidine should no longer be used as first or second line medications due to the creation of the better alternatives described above. 
     Benzos, VPA, Valerian and Amantadine  have not been proven to be beneficial and really should not be considered at this time.
     This article does not recommend medications for periodic limb movement disorder.