Intl RLS Drug Trial Announced on Aussie News

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sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Intl RLS Drug Trial Announced on Aussie News

Post by sardsy75 »

Hi all

The article below was just presented on one of our nightly National
News programs.

It sounds interesting and i'll be contacting the Woolcock Institute
tomorrow morning to find out more; particularly as to what drug it
is as it is not mentioned in the report.

Stay tuned!

Nadia
28/Qld/Aust

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=5871

Restless legs: international trial underway
Monday, May 3, 2004

By Sheryl Taylor

A major international study is being launched into a rarely known
but serious condition known as restless legs syndrome. This
typically manifests as a localised discomfort deep within the calf.
It's estimated that five percent of the population are sufferers. It
not only affects their health, it can also dramatically disrupt
their lives.
Sufferers of restless legs syndrome don't need science to relate how
severely this syndrome affects them.

"It's almost as if your nerves are constantly alive and firing away;
you just cannot switch them off," says Beverley Yakich.

According to most research, the problem stems from transmission of a
chemical in the brain or deficiency of a chemical in the brain.

It can affect people at any time, but is usually worse at night,
depriving sufferers of sleep as they try to relieve muscle tension.

"[At night] I get up, start pacing the floor, sometimes sit on the
exercise bike for a while, thinking, please let it go away," says
Yakich. "I can feel it's there again, so I get up and have a
shower."

According to Dr Brendon Yee from the Woolcock Research Institute,
the quality of life of people with the syndrome is comparable to
that of people with arthritis and diabetes.

Restless legs is also hereditary. Beverley's father had it, she's
had it since she was a child and two of her children now suffer the
same problem.

In an effort to try and correct the chemical imbalance in the brain,
an international trial of new medication is now underway. The only
Australian centre participating, the Woolcock Research Institute, is
now recruiting volunteers.

Patients need to trial the medication for four weeks.

For further information:

www.rls.org.au
www.woolcock.org.au

National Nine News
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

sardsy75
Posts: 862
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:56 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by sardsy75 »

I rang the Woolcock Institute regarding the drug trial last Monday as mentioned below.

The woman I spoke to was only an administration officer and was
unable to answer any of the questions I had, including what drug is
being tested.

I did however answer the list of questions she had been given to ask
each caller i.e. name, age, type of RLS, whether Parkinson's & Fibro
ran in the family (which I thought was an interesting question!) and
what drugs I was on. At the end of all that I was told I would be sent and information pack.

.....

The information pack arrived in the mail on Monday just gone.

The study title is: A Four-Week, Randomised, Double-Blind, Pacebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of GW-3531621 In Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and with Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep.

The Company Name: GlaxoSmithKline

The Investigator: Professor Ron Grunstein

The information booklet goes on to say that the main purpose is to "test the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of GW353162 in the treatment of RLS." The drug is an investigational drug only, not yet approved, not available by prescription, and is used in this study for experimentational purposes only.

GW353162 is related to the drug bupropion, which has been available on the market for more than 10 year for the treatment of depression (Wellbutrin), and for smoking (Zyban).

.....

Sounds all rather exciting....but given the fun I've been having with my legs and normal drugs lately, i'm definitely not in any fit state to volunteer for this one!
Nadia

My philosophy is simply this: Life is too short to be diplomatic. Your friends should not care what you do, or say; and for those who are not your friends ... their loss!!!

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