To reduce this risk, you should exercise regularly , maintain a healthy weight , give up smoking if you smoke, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Read more about preventing cardiovascular disease. Page last reviewed: 06 August Next review due: 06 August If symptoms are more severe, medication may be needed. If it's associated with pregnancy, it usually disappears on its own within 4 weeks of the birth.
Lifestyle changes A number of lifestyle changes may be enough to ease the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. They work by increasing dopamine levels, which are often low. Dopamine agonists that may be recommended include: ropinirole pramipexole rotigotine skin patch These medications can occasionally make you feel sleepy, so you should be cautious when driving or using tools or machinery after taking them. People with ICD are unable to resist the urge to do something harmful to themselves or others.
Painkillers A mild opiate-based painkiller, such as codeine, may be prescribed to relieve pain associated with restless legs syndrome. Side effects of these medications include dizziness, tiredness and headaches. Aiding sleep If restless legs syndrome is disrupting your sleep, a short-term course of medication may be recommended to help you sleep.
Other types of drugs can also help relieve RLS symptoms without causing these same types of problems. Dopaminergic drugs increase the release of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is a chemical that helps enable normal body movements 1. Three dopaminergic medications have been approved by the U. While dopaminergic drugs have been shown to help improve RLS symptoms, long-term use can actually worsen symptoms. This phenomenon is called augmentation.
To help delay this problem, doctors typically prescribe the lowest possible dose of these drugs 1 , In addition, these drugs can become less effective over time. To help delay or prevent both of these problems, your doctor may prescribe a combination of dopaminergic drugs with other types of drugs to treat RLS 1. This is an antiseizure medication In one study, 24 people with RLS were treated with gabapentin or a placebo for six weeks.
Those treated with gabapentin had improved sleep and reduced leg movements from RLS, while those treated with a placebo did not Another study compared the use of gabapentin with the use of ropinirole one of the drugs approved by the FDA to treat RLS. Eight people with RLS took each of the drugs for four weeks, and both groups achieved similar levels of relief from RLS symptoms Benzodiazepines are drugs used to treat anxiety and sleep problems. Clonazepam Klonopin and other types of these drugs are often prescribed for people with RLS in combination with other drugs While these drugs may not relieve RLS symptoms themselves, their benefit of improved sleep can be very helpful for people with RLS Opioids are typically used to treat pain.
However, because of the newer guidelines being developed for the use of opioids, this should be a last resort. As with all opioids, use of these drugs should be carefully overseen by a doctor, due to their risk of misuse and dependence.
If you have moderate to severe RLS, your doctor will likely suggest one or more medications. Dopaminergic drugs are typically a primary RLS treatment, but they can cause side effects and augmentation, so their use must be managed carefully. Called restiffic, the foot wrap puts pressure on certain points on the bottom of your foot. The pressure sends messages to your brain, which responds by telling the muscles affected by RLS to relax.
This helps relieve your RLS symptoms A study of 30 people using the foot wrap for eight weeks found significant improvements in RLS symptoms and sleep quality It may or may not be covered by your insurance The restiffic foot wrap requires a prescription and an initial monetary investment, but could provide RLS relief by applying pressure on certain points on the bottom of the foot.
In the hospital, a pneumatic compression device PCD is typically used to improve circulation and prevent blood clots. Improved circulation might also be the reason pneumatic compression has been shown to help relieve RLS symptoms Some researchers believe that a cause of RLS is low oxygen levels in the limbs. They think that the body responds to this problem by increasing circulation via the muscle contractions that occur when the person moves their limb Whatever the reason, some research has shown that pneumatic compression can help relieve RLS symptoms.
A study of 35 people who used a PCD for at least an hour every day for a month had markedly improved RLS symptoms, sleep quality, and daytime function. However, other research has not shown the same effects 33 , Some PCDs are rented, and others can be purchased over the counter or with a prescription. A PCD is a non-drug treatment that can be bought over the counter or with a prescription. It could help relieve RLS symptoms by improving circulation in your legs.
Results from research on this device have been conflicted. A vibrating pad called the Relaxis pad may not relieve your RLS symptoms, but it could help you sleep better 4. You place the pad on the affected area, such as your leg, and set it to the desired vibration intensity. The pad vibrates for 30 minutes and then shuts itself off However, it has been shown to improve sleep In fact, one study found it to be as effective in improving sleep as the four FDA-approved RLS drugs: ropinirole, pramipexole, gabapentin, and rotigotine The Relaxis pad is available only by prescription from your doctor.
It may not treat actual RLS symptoms, but its counterstimulation effects could help you sleep better. This painless treatment is called near-infrared spectroscopy NIRS. With NIRS, light beams with long wavelengths are used to penetrate the skin. The light causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation One theory posits that RLS is caused by low oxygen levels in the affected area.
Several studies have found this treatment effective. Both circulation and RLS symptoms showed significant improvement Another showed that people treated with twelve minute treatments of NIRS over four weeks also had significantly reduced symptoms of RLS. Symptoms were improved up to four weeks after treatment ended A NIRS device could cost several hundred dollars, but the long-lasting effects of this noninvasive treatment could be worth the investment.
The above treatments have some research to support their use. Other treatments have less evidence, but may still work for some people with RLS. A primary cause of this is, not surprisingly, iron deficiency. Iron is an essential part of nutrition while pregnant because of the higher risks of developing iron-deficiency anemia.
The good news, says Dr. Of course, home remedies have their limits. Not everyone with restless legs needs to see a doctor, but severe cases can be debilitating. Berkowski says, as their lack of sleep can cause depression and anxiety. If these home remedies still fall short, your doctor can provide you with more information about the potential prescription medicines that can help.
When it comes to treating restless legs syndrome, anything that relieves symptoms is worth trying. Here are some options our expert suggests. Learn more about vaccine availability.
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