The Horizant® DifferenceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Revised guidelines were due to results from clinical trials and longitudinal observational studies that demonstrated the risk of augmentation, tolerance, and rebounds with the use of dopamine agonists.1-3

AASM Clinical Practice Guidelines now suggest AGAINST the standard use of dopamine agonists (DAs)*

The long-term risk of augmentation with DA use is now clearer, which led to the conditional recommendation against:1

  • Levodopa
  • Pramipexole
  • Rotigotine Transdermal Patch
  • Ropinirole

* DAs may be used to treat RLS by patients who place a higher value on the reduction of restless legs symptoms in the short term and a lower value on adverse effects (particularly augmentation with long-term use).

Gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant®) is the ONLY FDA-approved treatment for RLS that is strongly recommended by the AASM Clinical Practice Guidelines**

Gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant®) is a strongly recommended RLS therapy providing clinically significant improvements in:1

  • RLS disease severity
  • Sleep quality
  • Quality of life

Read the full AASM Guidelines here

** Strong recommendation, moderate certainty of evidence; based on 8 randomized controlled trials and 3 observational studies.

Updated guidelines reshape treatment approach for RLS

Mark Buchfuhrer, MD, explores the importance of effectively managing RLS symptoms in patients. He discusses the latest treatment approaches, highlighting key differences among available options in light of the updated AASM guidelines.

Are you a healthcare provider looking for additional RLS treatment resources?

RLSCurbside.org is a non-commercial, free, HIPAA-compliant provider-to-provider online forum to discuss specific RLS patient management inquiries.