Health Library Anticonvulsants for Restless Legs SyndromeFrom Healthwise

Anticonvulsants are used to help control or prevent abnormal increases in brain electrical activity. They are primarily used for people who have seizures. They may help suppress electrical activity in the brain that causes restless legs syndrome symptoms.

Gabapentin can help people with restless legs syndrome. It is sometimes used when symptoms are severe and can be used in combination with other drugs.

While anticonvulsants help relieve symptoms in some people, they have no effect on others.

Drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, blurred vision, nausea, and poor coordination have all been reported as occasional side effects when these medications were used as treatment for other conditions. Research is needed to discover whether side effects are different when these drugs are used to treat restless legs syndrome.

People of Asian ancestry may be at a higher risk for skin problems from taking carbamazepine. These skin problems, which include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, can be dangerous. The FDA recommends that people of Asian background be tested before they take carbamazepine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on anticonvulsants and the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, people who take anticonvulsant medicine should be watched closely for warning signs of suicide. People who take anticonvulsant medicine and who are worried about this side effect should talk to a doctor.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

More study is needed to discover the full range of side effects. Anticonvulsants have not yet been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for treatment of restless legs syndrome.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW Cynthia Tank	Last Updated: April 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Wayne A. Hening, MD - Neurology Karin M. Lindholm, DO - Neurology
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