Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2005 May;16(3):240-244.

A Case of Restless Leg Syndrome Induced by Bupropion in a Patient with Bipolar Disorder

• Kim W
• Song HR
• Woo YS
• Bahk WM

Abstract

A 35 year-old female patient with bipolar disorder, single manic episode in remission, were being followed up in the outpatient clinic regularly. Since she complained of depressive symtpoms, bupropion SR of 150 mg was adminstered. On 3 days after administration of bupropion SR, she complained of creeping and crawling sensation on both legs which was aggravated at night and attenuated with movement. She also had a difficulty in falling a sleep becuase of the discomfort of both legs and the urge to move. We observed these symptoms during 1 week, but her discomfort was not improved at all. Therefore we considered her symptoms as restless leg syndrome (RLS) induced by bupropion SR, and started clonazepam of 0.5 mg for the control of her discomfort on 10 days after bupropion SR administration. On the day after addition of clonazepam, her discomfort of both leg began to subside. Many cases of SSRI-induced RLS have been reported and these were explained by the dopamine hypoactivity related with stimulation of serotonin system. But, RLS induced by bupropion in this case cannot be explained by that hypothesis, so which suggested that more than one neurotransmitter system involves the pathogenesis of RLS. On our knowledge, this is the first one reporting RLS induced by bupropion.

Keyword

Restless leg syndrome (RLS); Bupropion

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Bipolar Disorder*
Bupropion*
Clonazepam
Dopamine
Female
Humans
Leg
Neurotransmitter Agents
Restless Legs Syndrome*
Sensation
Serotonin
Bupropion
Clonazepam
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter Agents
Serotonin