Effects of bromocriptine on periodic limb movements in human narcolepsy.

We studied the effects of bromocriptine on periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) of narcoleptic patients. Bromocriptine significantly reduced the number and index of PLMS without improving the nocturnal sleep disruption in that disorder. These results support the hypothesis that dopaminergic mechanisms are involved in the physiopathology of PLMS, and suggest that PLMS do not play a major role in the nocturnal sleep disruption of narcoleptic patients.