BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder 
complicated in many patients by augmentation to dopaminergic therapy or 
comorbidities such as neuropathic pain.
AIMS: To explore the effectiveness of pregabalin in RLS in a pragmatic clinical 
setting.
METHODS: After observing improvement of restless legs symptoms in seven patients 
treated with pregabalin for neuropathic pain, we extended the clinical 
observation to a total of 16 patients with secondary RLS, in most of them due to 
neuropathy, and to three patients with idiopathic RLS.
RESULTS: Three patients discontinued pregabalin because of side effects (rash, 
fatigue, loss of efficacy). The other 16 patients self-rated a satisfactory or 
good alleviation of RLS symptoms and maintained pregabalin, five with add-on 
medication, on a mean daily dose of 305 mg (standard deviation, 185 mg), and 
with a mean duration of 217 (standard deviation, 183) days.
CONCLUSION: These data propose pregabalin as a new option in the treatment of 
secondary RLS for patients with neuropathic pain, which should be further 
investigated with randomized, placebo-controlled trials.