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Case Reports: Unusual association of diseases/symptoms
Chronic dizziness in restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients responsive to levodopa or dopamine agonists
  1. Sanjay Prakash1,
  2. Harsh Patel1,
  3. Chetsi Sudhir Shah1 and
  4. Anurag Prakash2
  1. 1Neurolgy, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Vadodara, India
  2. 2Parul Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  1. Correspondence to Sanjay Prakash; drprakashs{at}yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Apart from the legs, restless legs syndrome (RLS) also affects the arms, head, neck, face, oral cavity, genital area, abdomen, intestines and bladder. RLS is also linked to several comorbid diseases, including headache disorders. Its association with dizziness has never been explored. We are reporting on two patients with RLS who also had a history of chronic dizziness. The treatment with levodopa or dopamine agonists completely alleviated both RLS and dizziness. We propose that RLS-like symptoms in the head may be experienced as dizziness and that dizziness may be part of the symptom complex of RLS. A large number of patients with chronic dizziness remain undiagnosed in clinical practice. We suggest exploring the history of RLS in patients presenting with chronic dizziness. Such patients may respond to levodopa or dopamine agonists. Because the response was seen in only two patients, a prospective placebo-controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings.

  • Sleep disorders (neurology)
  • Movement disorders (other than Parkinsons)

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-255700

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @drprakashs

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: SP, HP, CSS and AP. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: SP, HP, CSS and AP.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.