Research Article

Gender differences in the association between antidepressant use and restless legs syndrome†

  1. Kristin R. Baughman PhD1,*,
  2. Claire C. Bourguet PhD1,
  3. Scott K. Ober MD, MBA2,3

Article first published online: 7 APR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/mds.22517

Issue

Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders

Volume 24, Issue 7, pages 1054–1059, 15 May 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Baughman, K. R., Bourguet, C. C. and Ober, S. K. (2009), Gender differences in the association between antidepressant use and restless legs syndrome. Mov. Disord., 24: 1054–1059. doi: 10.1002/mds.22517

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rootstown, Ohio, USA

  2. 2

    Community Outpatient Services, Louis B. Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

*Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272

  1. †

    Potential conflict of interest: Dr. Ober is the recipient of an unrestricted research grant from Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 7 APR 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 FEB 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 JAN 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 7 AUG 2008

Funded by

  • US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Grant Number: DAMD17-03-1-0082
  • Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation

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Keywords:

  • restless legs syndrome;
  • depression;
  • antidepressants;
  • gender

Abstract

Contradictory results have been reported for the association between antidepressant use and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Our aim was to clarify the relationship and examine possible gender differences. We interviewed 1,693 veterans receiving primary care from the Cleveland VA Medical Center and obtained prescription drug information from their medical records. Overall, use of an antidepressant was associated with RLS for men (RR = 1.77, CI = 1.26, 2.48) but not for women (RR = 0.79, CI = 0.43, 1.47). Analyses of individual antidepressants revealed an association between RLS and fluoxetine for women (RR = 2.47, CI = 1.33, 4.56), and associations between RLS and citalopram, (RR = 2.09, CI = 1.20, 3.64), paroxetine (RR = 1.97, CI = 1.02, 3.79), and amitriptyline (RR = 2.40, CI = 1.45, 4.00) for men. We conclude that RLS may be associated with antidepressant use, but the association varies by gender and type of antidepressant. Antidepressant use is more strongly associated with RLS in men than in women. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society

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