tegaserod and Restless-Legs-Syndrome

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia. Since restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurs with fibromyalgia, a link between IBS, SIBO, and RLS was studied.. BS patients with abnormal lactulose breath tests received rifaximin 1,200 mg day(-1) for 10 days, followed by tegaserod 3 mg, long-term, and 1 month of zinc 220 mg day(-1) and once-daily probiotic (N = 11) or rifaximin monotherapy (N = 2). IBS symptom improvement was assessed after rifaximin. RLS symptoms, IBS symptoms, and overall IBS global improvement were assessed at last posttreatment visit: 8/10 patients were followed long-term (mean, 139 days; range, 54-450 days).. Ten of 13 patients exhibited > or =80% improvement from baseline in RLS symptoms. Five maintained complete resolution of RLS symptoms. Global gastrointestinal symptom improvement was great (n = 6), moderate (n = 5), or mild (n = 2).. This study suggests that SIBO associated with IBS may be a factor in some RLS patients and SIBO therapy provides long-term RLS improvement.

Topics: Adult; Breath Tests; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Gastrointestinal Agents; Humans; Indoles; Intestine, Small; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Restless Legs Syndrome; Rifamycins; Rifaximin; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome