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Opioids are a consensus treatment for moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS) when first-line approaches are insufficient. However, many patients with RLS are worried about getting addicted to opioids or they won't be able to get off them once they start.@andyberkowskimd of ReLACS Health assesses the risks of opioid use disorder this week's video.
For more detail on addiction risk with opioids for RLS, read this blog post:
www.relacshealth.com/blog/will-i-get-addicted-to-opioids-from-my-restless-legs-syndrome
This video addresses the following aspects of opioid addiction when it comes to RLS:
- What is opioid use disorder?
- What is the difference between abuse and dependence?
- Why are those with RLS different than those who use opioids for chronic pain or recreational use?
- Are those with RLS at lower risk for abuse or dependence?
- What are different types of dependence?
- What does the National RLS Opioid Registry say about risks of abuse or dependence?
- What strategies do clinicians use to mitigate the risks of opioid use disorder in RLS?
- Why are opioids potentially dangerous to use for treatment?
- What makes the benefits outweigh the risks for those with RLS specifically?
In case you were wondering about other adverse effects from opioids, this blog presents 10 of the most common adverse effects to watch out for when initiating treatment with opioids for RLS:
www.relacshealth.com/blog/10-of-the-most-common-side-effects-of-opioids-for-restless-legs-syndrome
In the wake of the opioid crisis in the US, the medical field has swung far to the other side in terms of comfort with prescribing of opioids. To read in detail why doctors are unwilling to prescribe opioids for RLS, read A ReLACSing Blog #21: www.relacshealth.com/blog/why...
This is the 2023 publication from the National RLS Opioid Registry:
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212...
After a thorough evaluation, an experienced clinician may suggest an opioid medication a person struggling with RLS may be recommended to start on an opioid. For any treatment, the benefits of the treatment must outweigh the risks or side effects to start in the first place. If one moves forward with opioid therapy for this condition, it is important to be aware of these common side effects: respiratory depression (shallow breathing or the inability to breathe at all), abuse (taking the drug to get high or for purposes not intended with treatment), dependence (reliance on the medication to be taken daily or withdrawal symptoms may occur), nausea & itching, constipation, symptoms of depressed mood, low testosterone, dental problems from buprenorphine, and heart conduction problems from methadone. These are discussed in more detail in this video.
As always, the most important thing with any treatment, even if adverse effects do occur, is to report these and make changes under the strict guidance of a licensed medical professional.
These videos are for general medical information, but those who live in or near Michigan, Ohio, or Florida can hire @andyberkowskimd of ReLACS Health for consultation regarding treatment of RLS as well as any sleep disorder that requires a little more time and expertise. Go to www.relacshealth.com/ for more information.