Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a kind of ailment that is accompanied by frequent jerking of the leg when the person is sleeping. The sleep will of course be disturbed if the irritation in the leg causes the person to wake up. Therefore, a person who suffers from this disorder also can be affected by sleep disorders like insomnia and feelings of sleepiness during the morning. There are two types of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Primary and Secondary.

The reason behind Primary PLMD is not clear. No one can tell why it affects some people. However, doctors are of the common belief that some irregularities in the nerves that travel from the brain to the limbs cause this problem in many people. Secondary PLMD develops in people with underlying medical conditions like diabetes, iron deficiency, spinal cord injuries, sleeping disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy (a condition whereby a person feels very sleepy throughout the day), renal disorders, and anemia. Certain kinds of medications can also cause PLMD, like neuroleptics, medicines having antidopaminergic components etc. A person, who had been on sedatives for long and suddenly stops the medicines, is likely to develop this condition. In that case PLMD will be considered as a symptom of withdrawal.

First the condition is diagnosed. The doctor evaluates the lifestyle and the medical history of the person concerned. If an underlying medical condition is detected then that will be treated. The doctor can also run a blood test or a urine test on the person to detect any kind of deficiency. There is another lab test called polysomnography where the movements of the person is recorded in a lab while he/she is sleeping and the frequency of the leg jerks is also taken into account.

There are certain medications that lessen the intensity of the convulsions and the person can get better sleep with these medicines. Some of these medicines include Benzodiazepines (which is a sedative cum muscle calming agent). This medicine works dually to induce sleep and prevent muscle contraction. Dopaminergic drugs help to elevate the quantity of neurotransmitters dopamine in the brain, which in turn regulate the movement of the muscles. Anticonvalsant drugs as the name suggests exist to reduce the intensity of convulsions in the nerves and muscles. GABA agonist is another kind of drug which hinders the production of certain neurotransmitters that are responsible for contraction of muscles.

If you are observing jerking movements on your leg that happen in intervals and that is disturbing your sleep or causing you to feel sleepy during the daytime, you should go for treatment for PLMD.

Some of the underlying medical conditions that lead to the development of PLMD include diabetes mellitus, iron deficiency, spinal cord injury, anemia, uremia and narcolepsy. If these conditions are the leading causes behind the development of PLMD, then the core ailment should be treated and merely anti-convalescent or dopaminergic drugs would not help.

Some of the common side effects of PLMD drugs include nausea, dizziness, poor coordination, drowsiness, a feeling of depression, anxiety, arrhythmia, shortness of breath etc. Talk to your doctor regarding the medicine dosage.

In most cases patients are given medicines to deal with PLMD. Post treatment guidelines usually revolve around the taking of those medicines on a regular basis and being under medical observation.

A patient cannot fully recover from this condition. It is just that the intensity of the jerks is reduced and some drugs work as sedatives and induce better sleep. Therefore, a person with this condition will have to continue medications. If PLMD is a symptom of an underlying effect then the problem will subside as soon as the core ailment is treated.

Price of medicines to treat PLMD in India should not exceed INR 1500.

Permanency of the result depends on the condition that is causing PLMD in the first place. For example if a person has iron deficiency, anemia or sleep apnea that is causing PLMD, then the symptoms of PLMD will subside with the removal of these disorders. But if it is diabetes mellitus that is causing the disorder then medicines will help to reduce the intensity of leg movement during the night but won’t eliminate it permanently.

PMLD that develops without any underlying condition cannot be fully eliminated, but the condition will be surely improved with medicines.

There are some homeopathic medicines that treat Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Medicines that are made by using zinc solution can treat the symptoms of PLMD. A medicine that uses the extract of Tarantula spider might also work. Talk to your doctor to know what medicines will help your conditions better.