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New Patch Offers Solution For Restless Leg Syndrome

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

A new treatment option for people suffering from something called restless leg syndrome. For those with the condition, if their legs aren't moving, they throb or ache. But now there's a way to get some relief with fewer side effects

This is a great achievement for Beverly Cato. She can sit, relax and read. it may seem simple, but she hasn't been able to do it for years.

Beverly Cato, Restless Legs Syndrome Patient: "I thought it was normal. I just thought it was me. A constant need to move. It's uncontrollable."

Beverly suffers from restless legs syndrome. She shows us how she had to constantly move her legs. it was a real problem at night. Sleep was next to impossible.

Beverly Cato: "There's no relief, your legs are just constantly tense and unless you move, you get a bit relief."

Dr. Steven Cohen: "A lot of people feel like they are going crazy."

Restless legs syndrome affects up to 10-percent of the population.

Dr. Steven Cohen, Neurologist: "The key thing is it's not present when they are up and walking. It's only when they are sitting or lying down."

Patients with restless leg syndrome often complain they have dancing feet that won't stop moving and twitching causing discomfort and even pain. Scientists recently reported they discovered a gene they think causes the syndrome. They hope, this may lead to targeted drug therapy. In the meantime, several drugs have been shown to help control restless leg symptoms.

Neurologist Steven Cohen says the same dopamine medications used to treat Parkinson's disease can help patients.

Dr. Steven Cohen: "Why the extra dopamine helps in restless legs syndrome we don't know."

Oral medications are available, but now new research shows a patch with the drug Rotigotine is an even better choice.

Dr. Steven Cohen: "Not everyone has gotten 100 percent relief, but everyone that I've seen has gotten pretty good relief. The major benefit is you put it on and forget it."

It's working for Beverly. Every day when she puts on her make up, she also puts on her patch so she can live life without restless legs.

The patch is already approved in Europe and the process of receiving f-d-a approval in the united states is underway.

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