A Case of Restless Arm Syndrome and the Effective Use of Gabapentin

Restless arm syndrome (RAS) is an uncommon neurological condition that is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the upper limbs, often worse at rest and transiently relieved by movement. RAS is an upper limb variant of restless legs syndrome (RLS), a more common neurological condition, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. In view of its atypical presentation, RAS is often underdiagnosed. RAS is reported to share the same risk factors as RLS with its prevalence increasing with age, in the presence of certain conditions, and associated with the use of medications like antipsychotics and antidepressants. A case of possible RAS is described here in a patient who had experienced a few years of RLS-like symptoms and had been on various antidepressants for his depression. His symptoms markedly improved with a trial of gabapentin, which subsequently raised the possibility of RAS as a diagnosis. Clinicians should consider RAS as a differential in patients who experience symptoms suggestive of RLS in the presence of associated risk factors.