530 Restless Legs Syndrome Prevalence and Severity Among Patients Treated with Buprenorphine and Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 44; no. Supplement_2; pp. A208 - A209
• Main Authors: Wipper, Benjamin, Cooke, Michelle, Winkelman, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Westchester Oxford University Press 03.05.2021
• Subjects: Narcotics; Restless legs syndrome; Sleep; Substance use disorder
• ISSN: 0161-8105; 1550-9109
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsab072.528

Abstract Introduction Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a sensory-motor neurological disorder which is associated with sleep disturbance and emotional distress. Opioid medications are effective treatments for RLS, and a high percentage of patients undergoing opioid withdrawal exhibit symptoms of RLS. Despite the known connection between RLS and opioids, there has been no assessment of RLS in patients actively treated with buprenorphine and naloxone for opioid use disorder (OUD). Methods We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of RLS among patients with OUD at an outpatient buprenorphine and naloxone clinic at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. With the help of nurses, participants completed questionnaires which inquired about demographic information, previous opioid use, current medications, and RLS. Patients were categorized as having RLS if, according to the Cambridge-Hopkins Questionnaire, they answered positively to the four essential RLS criteria and if common mimics were not endorsed. A final determination of RLS status in those with ambiguous answers to RLS mimics was made by a trained sleep medicine physician (JWW). Results Participants (n=129) were primarily male (n=86; 66.7%), white (n=101; 78.3%), and the median age was 37.5 years. Approximately half of the sample (n=59; 45.7%) used medications for depression and/or anxiety. The median duration of buprenorphine and naloxone use was 3 years. 13.2% were judged to have RLS. RLS symptoms tended to be of moderate severity, disturb sleep to a moderate degree, and occur 5–15 days per month. There were no significant demographic or clinical differences in those with and without RLS. Of the 103 participants without suspected RLS, 15.5% (n=16) were taking a non-opioid medication known to treat RLS symptoms (e.g. gabapentin). Only 1/17 people (5.9%) with RLS were taking a treatment that would control such symptoms. Conclusion Approximately 13% of this sample currently taking buprenorphine and naloxone for OUD had RLS. RLS can greatly interfere with sleep and quality of life, and those with untreated or partially treated symptoms may be motivated to use unprescribed opioids to control them. With this in mind, clinicians treating OUD should be aware that there are effective non-opioid medications that can treat RLS. Support (if any):