Biological Basis for and Management of Drug Induced Symptom Augmentation in Restless Leg Syndrome

Sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Neurology and Brain Sciences

Although drugs that either increase dopamine (levodopa) or mimic dopamine in the brain (dopamine agonists) are highly effective treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), chronic use has negative consequences. These agents, when used chronically, lead to drug-induced, worsening of the RLS symptoms, which has been coined “augmentation.” Augmentation is the single biggest problem facing most patients on treatment for RLS and withdrawal from these drugs continues to be a major clinical problem facing patients and their care providers. Decades of research have provided significant insights into the biological basis for augmentation while clinical experience has provided some guidelines on how to identity and treated augmentation. This presentation will review the biological changes in the dopaminergic system that best fit the clinical features of augmentation and will review approaches in diagnosis and management of augmentation. This program will be presented on Zoom. A link will be shared in advance of the program.

Dr. Christopher Earley is a Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Restless Legs Syndrome, a certified RLS Quality Care Center. Dr. Earley is board certified in internal medicine, neurology and sleep medicine. His research and clinical interests are devoted to sleep medicine with a special interest in RLS. Specifically, Dr. Earley is focused on understanding the pathophysiology of RLS and further elucidating the value of various treatments. He is chair of the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation’s combined Scientific and Medical Advisory Board and an active member of the Research Grant Committee.