Treatment of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
The goals of the treatment for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is to:
- Relieve symptoms
- Increase the duration and quality of sleep
- Treat or correct any underlying condition/disorder that causes PLMD
Types of treatment include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Medications
A. Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can improve and relieve the symptoms of Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Some lifestyle changes that may help include:
Avoid things that can worsen the symptoms of PLMD like :
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Caffeine—Chocolate, coffee, tea, and a few soft drinks contain caffeine. Although it may seem to help overcome daytime sleepiness, caffeine usually delays or masks PLMD symptoms, and often makes them worse.
- Some medications —Some types of over-the-counter and prescription medicines can also worsen PLMD symptoms. These include:
- Antidepressants
- Antinausea medicines
- Antipsychotic medicines
- Antihistamines
It helps to adopt good sleep hygiene measures and follow a regular exercise program. Some people with PLMD find it helpful to go to bed later in the evening and get up late in the morning. The important thing is to get enough sleep in order to feel fresh and rested on waking up.
B. Medications
The treatment regime for Periodic Leg Movement Disorder does not offer a cure for the disorder but helps to relieve the symptoms.
Medications help to reduce the movements or enables the person to sleep while the movements occur
Most of the medications used to treat PLMD are the same as those used to treat restless legs syndrome. Some of these medications are listed below:
- Benzodiazepines: These drugs are sedatives and helps the patient to sleep through the movements. They also help to suppress muscle contractions. Clonazepam in particular, has been shown to reduce the number of periodic limb movements per hour. It is probably the most widely used drug to treat PLMD.
- Dopaminergic agents: These drugs increase the levels of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter.This brain chemical plays a vital role in regulating muscle movements. These medications are effective in some people but not so in others.Popular examples are Levodopa/Carbidopa combination (Sinemet) and Pergolide (Permax).
- Anticonvulsant agents: These drugs help to lower muscle contractions in some people. The most widely employed anti-convulsant for PLMD is Gabapentin (Neurontin).
- GABA agonists: These agents block the release of some neurotransmitters that incite muscle contractions. This helps to relax the muscles. The most widely used GABA agonist is Baclofen
