Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment Overview
Care Plan
First steps to consider
- If you have symptoms of restless leg syndrome—an irresistible urge to move them—it’s important to see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.
- To help manage symptoms, try to improve your sleep habits and try warm baths, gentle stretching, and massage before bed.
Emergency Care
Call 911 or go to the ER if you have any of the following symptoms:
- You cannot control your urination or your bowel movements.
- You have numbness in your hips or genital area.
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Treat
When to see a healthcare provider
If you have symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), you should see a doctor. They can prescribe medications to help with your symptoms. These include iron supplements, prescription medications that target the brain chemical called dopamine, and nerve medications that treat pain.
Because RLS can be confused with other disorders that cause leg discomfort, it’s important for your doctor to make sure you don’t have these conditions.
How do they test for restless legs syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome is diagnosed based on your symptoms. Sometimes your doctor will check your iron levels, because it can be linked to restless leg syndrome.
What to expect from your visit
- Your doctor will review your medication list to see if anything you take might be contributing to RLS. Some medications for depression, nausea, or psychosis can worsen the problem.
- You may be prescribed dopamine agonists, including ropinirole (Requip) and pramipexole (Mirapex). These help with dopamine activity that is causing RLS symptoms.
- You may also be given nerve medications, including gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), and gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant), which change neurotransmitter activity.
- Your doctor may refer you for acupuncture, which uses thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body to change how the body reacts. It has been shown to help RLS symptoms.
Types of restless legs syndrome providers
- A primary care provider can treat mild to moderate symptoms.
- A sleep specialist can do additional testing, like a sleep study, and may be more knowledgeable about treatment options.
- Physical therapists can help create a graduated exercise program.
Treating restless leg syndrome at home
While you should see a doctor if you have restless legs syndrome (RLS), there are also things you can do at home to reduce your symptoms. Since RLS symptoms often happen when you’re trying to sleep, the strategies try to both reduce the discomfort in your legs that leads to the urge to move your muscles and help you get a better night’s sleep.
It’s important to improve your sleep hygiene (your routines that can affect your sleep).
- Avoid electronics, like phones, computers, and TV, an hour or two before going to sleep.
- Don’t drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks after noon.
- Avoid drinking alcohol before bed.
- Keep your bedroom cool and dark.
It’s also helpful to start a graduated exercise program, which may be needed if you have a more sedentary lifestyle.
OTC treatments for restless leg syndrome
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help the pain and discomfort.
Tips for restless leg syndrome
- Try to get regular exercise. Exercising in the morning is better than exercising before bed.
- Improve your sleep hygiene.
- Try warm baths, gentle stretching, and massage before bed.
- You can try pneumatic compression devices, which are inflatable sleeves that you wear on your lower legs for about an hour a day.
- Some people find that a weighted blanket helps symptoms.
FAQ