0558 Emergence of Restless Legs Syndrome During Opioid Withdrawal

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Discontinuation of opioid medications may be associated with emergence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), which may complicate opioid withdrawal. However, this has not been systematically studied. We aimed to prospectively determine the frequency of the occurrence and severity of RLS symptoms in patients undergoing physician supervised opioid tapering during a 3-week interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. Methods Adult patients undergoing prescription opioid taper were prospectively recruited during their participation in the Mayo Pain Rehabilitation Center from 2016 to 2021. Subjects completed the Cambridge-Hopkins RLS Questionnaire 13 and International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale (IRLS) at baseline, midpoint, and dismissal from the program as well as 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months after dismissal from the program. Results 101 patients participated with 61% being female taking a mean morphine equivalent dose of 46.6 ± 49.0 mg. Baseline prevalence of RLS symptoms was 29% (29/101), increasing to 32% (32/101) at midpoint of treatment and further to 35% (34/97) at dismissal from the program. Frequency of RLS symptoms peaked 2 weeks after dismissal at 38% (30/78) and steadily declined to 35% (28/80) and 31% (21/68) at 1 month and 3 months after dismissal, respectively. Thirty-five percent of patients without baseline RLS symptoms reported de novo RLS symptoms at some point during their opioid taper. RLS severity score followed a similar trend as the presence of symptoms with a baseline of 16.6 ± 10.0. RLS severity score was maximum at 19.1 ± 7.3 one month following dismissal and decreased but remained elevated above baseline at 3 months following dismissal. Conclusion Symptoms of RLS occurred in over a third of patients on chronic opioids and increased during opioid withdrawal, appearing to peak in frequency and severity 2-4 weeks after discontinuation and gradually improved 3 months after discontinuation. Over one-third of patients in our cohort developed de novo symptoms of RLS at some point during their opioid withdrawal. Physicians supervising individuals undergoing opioid withdrawal should be aware of the potential development of RLS symptoms which may hinder successful opioid withdrawal. Support (If Any)