Title: “RLS guidelines no longer recommend dopamine agonists as standard treatment: What do we do now?”
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 1:00pm-2:30pm ET
Overview:
Until recently, dopamine agonists (ropinirole, pramipexole, rotigotine) were a mainstay of restless legs syndrome (RLS) treatment. Today, the 2025 AASM clinical practice guidelines and the 2026 RLS Foundation Treatment Guidelines recommend against the standard use of dopamine agonists due to drug-induced worsening of RLS severity (augmentation).
As a result, sleep specialists are wondering “What do we do now?”
In response, this expert summit assembles a group of RLS experts – some who contributed to the guidelines and others as independent opinions – to provide guidance on how they incorporate the recommended alternatives to dopamine agonists, based on clinical evidence and clinical experience. Recommended alternatives discussed in this session include iron therapy, gabapentinoids, opioids, and peroneal nerve stimulation, each of which have unique advantages and limitations.
Learning objectives/outcomes:
- Identify which RLS patients would benefit from intravenous iron infusions based on their blood testing results[JC1.1].
- Identify which RLS patients are indicated for high-frequency peroneal nerve stimulation based on their medication history[JC2.1].
- Describe the short-term and long-term risks of each recommended alternative to dopamine agonists.
- Explain why specific formulations of intravenous iron and specific opioids are recommended and others are not.
Speakers:
Andrew Berkowski, MD, FAASM (Chair)
Founder of ReLACS Health
Brian Koo, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology; Yale University,
Director of the Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome
Andrew Spector, MD, FAASM, FAAN
Professor of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine
The webinar is made possible by the SRS Foundation and supported by Noctrix Health.
Complimentary, Advanced Registration is Required. A recording will be available.
