Symptom Rebound and Augmentation in a Patient Being Treated for the Restless Legs Syndrome

 

Features of symptom rebound - both of the following:

(1) control of symptoms in the early evening

(2) onset of symptoms in the middle of the night or in the early morning

 

Features of symptom augmentation - one or more of the following:

(1) onset of symptoms earlier in the evening

(2) increased severity of leg symptoms

(3) spread of the movement disorder to the arms and/or trunk

 

where:

• Loss of previous control might also be viewed as a form of augmentation.

• Symptom augmentation may mask symptom rebound.

 

Exclusion:

(1) noncompliance

(2) onset of a new condition that may contribute to the restless legs (iron deficiency, etc).