Reduced response to gabapentin enacarbil in restless legs syndrome following long-term dopaminergic treatment.

Objectives: To determine whether long-term treatment with dopaminergic agents (DAs) might dampen the response to a non-dopaminergic agent, such as gabapentin enacarbil.

Methods: We performed a two-week randomized, double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled study in a single, referral center in dopamine treatment-naive patients and non-augmented patients continuously treated with dopaminergics for the last five consecutive years. Following washout from any previous CNS-active drugs, patients were randomized into one of two groups for two consecutive two-week treatment periods with gabapentin enacarbil (GBPen) and placebo.