Intl RLS Drug Trial Announced on Aussie News
Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 9:17 am
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
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