Prevalence of Current Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms Among Patients Treated with Buprenorphine/Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder

Figures & data

Table 1 Sample Characteristics

	All	Definite/Probable RLS	Possible RLS	No RLS
n	129	17	9	103
Age	40.6 (11.9)^a	39.4 (10.7)	38.4 (8.0)	41.0 (12.5)^b
% Female	33.3%	29.4%	33.3%	34.0%
% White	81.5%^c	82.4%	66.7%	82.7%^d
Previous Drug Use (At Least Once per Week Before Starting Buprenorphine/Naloxone)
Opioids by Mouth	55.0%	64.7%	55.6%	53.4%
Snorting Heroin	29.5%	17.6%	33.3%	31.1%
IV Opioids	77.5%	82.4%	88.9%	75.7%
Cocaine	31.8%	23.5%	66.7%	30.1%
Benzodiazepines	19.5%	29.4%	33.3%	16.5%
Marijuana	27.1%	47.1%	33.3%	23.3%
Current Prescription Medication and Alcohol Use
Time on Buprenorphine/Naloxone Maintenance Therapy (Years)	3.3 (3.0)^e	3.8 (2.8)	3.9 (3.7)^f	3.2 (3.0)^g
Use of Medication for Anxiety and/or Depression	45.7%	58.8%	33.3%	44.7%
Use of Medication(s) for Pain	27.9%	35.3%	55.6%	24.3%
Use of Medication Known to Treat RLS	29.5%	23.5%	66.7%	27.2%
Use of Medication Known to Worsen RLS	24.0%	35.3%	11.1%	23.3%
Alcohol (At Least 1 Drink/Week)	11.8%^h	17.6%	11.1%	10.9%^i

Notes: Drugs considered to treat Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) were dopamine agonists, alpha-2-delta calcium channel ligands (gabapentin, pregabalin), sedative hypnotics, and clonidine. Drugs considered to worsen RLS were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, mirtazapine, quetiapine, and risperidone. Continuous variables are expressed as mean (SD) and categorical variables as percentage. ^an = 128; ^bn = 102; ^cn = 124; ^dn = 98; ^en = 114; ^fn = 8; ^gn = 89; ^hn = 127; ⁱn = 101.

Figure 1 Determinations of current Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) symptom status. Participants were classified as currently having definite, probable, possible, or no RLS symptoms based on responses to the Cambridge-Hopkins RLS questionnaire.

Table 2 Characterizing Those Experiencing Definite/Probable Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Symptoms (n=17)

	Count (%)
Time on Buprenorphine/Naloxone Maintenance Therapy
Under 1 year	4 (23.5%)
1 year to less than 5 years	5 (29.4%)
5 years or more	8 (47.1%)
RLS Symptom Frequency
1 day per month or less	2 (11.8%)
2–4 days per month	4 (23.5%)
5–15 days per month	8 (47.1%)
Most days	3 (17.6%)
RLS Symptom Severity
Mild	1 (5.9%)
Moderate	13 (76.5%)
Severe	2 (11.8%)
Very Severe	1 (5.9%)
Sleep Disturbance due to RLS Symptoms
None	0 (0.0%)
Mild	2 (11.8%)
Moderate	11 (64.7%)
Severe	2 (11.8%)
Very Severe	2 (11.8%)