The Effect of Clonazepam on Restless Legs Syndrome in a Pregnant Woman: A Case Report of a Patient with Six Previous Pregnancies Accompanied by This Syndrome

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is very common among pregnant women; its prevalence corresponds to parity and occurs more frequently in the later stages of pregnancy. It is associated with numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes such as an increased risk of Caesarean section, preeclampsia, insomnia, and depression. Medical treatment of RLS during pregnancy is challenging considering the risks to both the mother and fetus. Case Description: In this report, we describe the case of a 44-year-old, seventh-time multiparous woman with a positive family history of RLS who presented with severe symptoms in her 24th week of pregnancy. She has had symptoms of RLS in every pregnancy thus far, usually starting in the second trimester, with an ineffective therapeutic response to diazepam and uncomfortable sensations, which usually resolve spontaneously a few weeks after delivery. After replacing diazepam with low-dose clonazepam, the patient reported complete disappearance of unpleasant sensations in her legs, with a significant improvement in her quality of life. Conclusions: A low dose of clonazepam is a good therapeutic option for the treatment of RLS during pregnancy and, if necessary, can also be considered the therapy of choice during lactation.