Requip tabs approved for treatment of restless legs syndrome in adults
Friday, May 06, 2005 16:00 IST Research Triangle Park, N.C.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved GlaxoSmithKline's Requip (ropinirole HCl) Tablets for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in adults.
Requip is the first and only FDA approved treatment for those patients with moderate-to-severe primary RLS, a chronic and disruptive neurological condition. RLS, which encompasses a range of severity that includes mild, moderate and severe symptoms, affects approximately one in ten adults in the US.
Identified in the early 1940's by neurologist Dr. Karl Ekbom, RLS is characterized by a compelling urge to move the legs and by uncomfortable or sometimes painful sensations in the legs often described as creeping-crawling, tingling, pulling or tightening. Symptoms of RLS generally occur at rest, such as when sitting, lying or sleeping, and are temporarily relieved by movement. These symptoms can significantly disrupt a patient's sleep and daily activities. People with RLS often have difficulty falling and staying asleep and can feel less alert during the day.
Requip is a second-generation dopamine agonist that directly stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain.
