At 05:22 PM 1/29/98 -0500, Judith Richards wrote:
>http://www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/DISORDER/restless/RESTLESS.HTM
>
>National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
>
>RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME
>
>DESCRIPTION: Restless legs syndrome is a motor (movement) disorder
>characterized by uncomfortable sensations in
>the legs, which is worse during periods of inactivity or rest or while
>sitting or lying down. Individuals affected with the
>disorder describe the sensations as pulling, drawing, crawling, wormy,
>boring, tingling, pins and needles, prickly, and
>sometimes painful sensations that are usually accompanied by an
>overwhelming urge to move the legs. Sudden muscle
>jerks may also occur. Movement provides temporary relief from the
>discomfort. In rare cases, the arms may also be
>affected. Symptoms may interfere with sleep (sleep onset insomnia).
>Research suggests that restless legs syndrome is
>related to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), another more common
>motor disorder which causes disturbed
>sleep.
>
>TREATMENT: Treatment for restless legs syndrome is symptomatic. In most
>cases, medications such as clonazepam,
>temazepam, levodopa/carbidopa, bromocriptine, pergolide mesylate,
>oxycodone, propoxyphene, and codeine are
>effective in relieving the symptoms. However, some medications may have
>side effects. Application of cold compresses
>may also provide relief of symptoms.
>
>PROGNOSIS: Restless legs syndrome is a life-long condition for which
>there is no cure. Symptoms may gradually worsen
>with age, and their most disabling feature is the sleep onset insomnia
>they cause, which can be severe.
>
>RESEARCH: The NINDS supports an extensive program of basic research
>aimed at discovering the mechanisms behind
>many motor disorders such as restless legs syndrome, especially those
>associated with sleep. The goal of this research is
>to discover ways to prevent, diagnose, treat, and, ultimately, find
>cures for motor disorders including restless legs
>syndrome.
>
>These articles, available from a medical library, may provide more
>in-depth information on restless legs
>syndrome:
>McGee, S. "Restless legs syndrome." Journal of American Medical
>Association, 265:22; 3014 (June 12, 1991).
>
>Pelletier, G, Lorrain, D, and Montplaisir, J. "Sensory and motor
>components of the restless legs syndrome." Neurology,
>42:9; 1663-1666 (September 1992).
>
>Judith Richards
>[log in to unmask]
>
>At 02:01  29/01/98 -0500, MR SEYMOUR GROSS wrote:
>>-- [ From: Seymour Gross * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] --
>>The current issue of Life Magazine has an article on Sleep.  It states
>>that sinamet is being prescribed for RLS (for other than PWP) , which
>>seemed to me to be a new use for this medication.
>
>