Itchy Legs

Restless Leg Syndrom (RLS) is a very real and uncomfortable disorder, but not necessarily life-threatening.The condition makes you feel a compelling, uncomfortable urge to move your legs. But does this require medication? For some people, these symptoms are just temporary episodes of everyday life. But for others, the symptoms are severe enough to be abnormally discomforting and can cause other problems. Usually RLS is prone to occur at night, keeping them from sleeping. Not getting enough sleep can lower their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to other illnesses... and you get the picture. So, helping people with RLS get treatment is a good thing, but convincing perfectly healthy people that they are sick is not. These healthy people are running the risk of getting hurt from unnecessary treatment from experiencing side effects that bury any prospective benefit.

My close friend from high school was diagnosed with RLS during our junior year. In junior high school, we played softball together and in high school we both played on the lacrosse team. Along with RLS, she struggled constantly with shin splints. These two conditions brought her extreme pain and discomfort through out our athletic seasons. Before every practice, I would help stretch her calves and hamstrings to relieve some of the discomfort. At the time, I had always wondered if there was any kind of medication or therapy that she could do to ease the pain. When I finally asked her about it, she told me there was no cure for her RLS and that the drug treatments offered aren't very safe.

Earlier this semester, I was assigned homework to watch the local news for any examples of pharmaceutical medicalization. As mentioned in the last post, I saw three drug-related commercials where one was advertising Requip, a drug for RLS. Seeing the commercial reminded me of my friend's condition and her caution in taking treatment drugs. I was under the impression that treatments didn't really exist, so this commercial surprised me. The ad seemed promising and helpful... at first. The issue with the ad lies with the drug, Requip, and the way it is presented. The 3-minute ad vaguely describes RLS as “a strange sensation,” obscure enough that almost anyone can walk away from the commercial wondering if they have it. It also briefly mentions the side effects and doesn't go into much detail about it. What the ad fails to mention, is that Requip is a drug that was originally developed for Parkinson’s disease and because of this, it may not decrease the symptoms but could instead cause other side affects, like daytime sleepiness, nausea, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Also, this drug is not the only way to relieve symptoms. There are other cheaper options that do not necessarily require medication. Treating the underlying conditions, such as iron deficiency or peripheral neuropathy, is proven to be effective. Overall, the advertisement does not hold true for the interest of the patient. It holds back information about the drug that would be helpful in choosing whether or not to take it. This is abuse of medicalization and is the root of societal distrust in drug companies.

So what's the lesson here? Look out for those tricky drug commercials and do not be easily convinced!! Do some research online. Look to see what people (not drug companies) are saying about the drug. Discuss all aspects of the drug/your condition with your doctor before deciding to take it.

-Maryam G.