Drug Treatment During Pregnancy

When RLS occurs during pregnancy, physicians usually recommend appropriate lifestyle changes. Many medications prescribed for the treatment of RLS are known or are thought to interfere with normal prenatal development (teratogenic). The highest risk for such teratogenic effects is thought to occur during the first months of development, during which differentiation of major organ systems occurs.

Restless legs syndrome typically becomes more severe as pregnancy progresses. Therefore, drug therapy may be withheld until the last three months of pregnancy (third trimester), at which time these medications have the least risk of causing potential teratogenic effects. If drug therapy becomes necessary, physicians may consider low-potency opioids the safest, most effective treatment.

	Drug Therapy for Children