Restless Legs Syndrome
Overview
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. This is enough to make the diagnosis. There is no test for RLS.
Tests to check for health problems that may trigger RLS are:
- Blood tests
- Monitoring of leg activity
- Sleep studies
Nerves of the Leg |
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Treatments
Treatment
There is no cure for RLS. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms. Options are:
- Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and tobacco, maintaining a regular sleep pattern, and exercising regularly
- Managing any health problems that may be triggering RLS, such as low iron levels
- Medicines that help control severe symptoms, such as:
- Dopamine agonists
- Antiseizure medicine
- High blood pressure medicine
- Opioids
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
a (RLS)
RESOURCES
National Sleep Foundation http://www.sleepfoundation.org
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation http://www.rls.org
References
Garcia-Borreguero D, Cano-Pumarega I. New concepts in the management of restless legs syndrome. BMJ. 2017 Feb 27;356:j104.
Gonzalez-Latapi P, Malkani R. Update on restless leg syndrome: from mechanisms to treatment. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2019;19(8):54.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/restless-legs-syndrome-rls . Accessed October 2, 2020.
Restless legs syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless%5Flegs/detail%5Frestless%5Flegs.htm. Accessed October 2, 2020.
Understanding RLS. Restless Legs Syndrome Disease Foundation website. Available at: https://www.rls.org/understanding-rls. Accessed October 2, 2020.
Winkelman JW, Armstrong MJ, Allen RP, et al. Practice guideline summary: Treatment of restless leg syndrome in adults: Report of the Guideline, Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2016;87(24):2585-93.