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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Treatments for restless leg syndrome can depend on the cause but may include iron supplements, medications, and certain habits, including adopting a healthy sleep routine.Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes uncomfortable sensations, most often in the legs. These sensations have been described as tingly, crawling, creeping feelings, and cause the overwhelming urge to move the affected limb.RLS symptoms typically occur when the person is sitting, resting, or sleeping, and often happen at night. The movements caused by RLS are called periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). Because of these movements, RLS can cause serious sleep problems.Some people have primary RLS, which has no known cause. Others have secondary RLS, which is typically associated with nerve problems, pregnancy, iron deficiency, or chronic kidney failure.For most people with RLS, symptoms are mild. But if your symptoms are moderate to severe, RLS can have a big impact on your life. It can prevent you from sleeping enough, and thus cause problems with daytime focus and thinking, your job, and your social activities.As a result of these problems, RLS can lead to anxiety and depression. And the longer you have the condition, the worse it can get. It can even spread to other parts of your body, such as your arms (1).Because of the effects RLS can have on your life, treatment is important. Methods of treatment are varied, as the root cause of RLS isn’t truly known. For instance, some researchers suggest that RLS is caused by problems with the brain chemical dopamine, while others suggest that it’s related to poor circulation.Here we list the best treatments for RLS. Some of these you can try on your own. Others you can discuss with your doctor, who can help you create a treatment plan to help relieve your RLS symptoms.Your first step in addressing RLS should be to figure out if something is causing it. While RLS can be related to things that are largely out of your control, such as genetics or pregnancy, other possible factors can be addressed.These factors could be daily habits, medications you’re taking, health conditions you have, or other triggers.HabitsThe use of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco can aggravate RLs symptoms. Limiting these substances could help reduce your RLS symptoms (2).MedicationsCertain medications can cause or worsen RLS symptoms. Examples include: (1, 2, 3).older antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)antinausea drugs such as metoclopramide (Reglan) or prochlorperazine (Compro)antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol) or olanzapine (Zyprexa)lithium (Lithobid)selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or escitalopram (Lexapro)tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or amoxapine (Asendin)tramadol (Ultram)levothyroxine (Levoxyl)Make sure your doctor knows about all drugs you’re taking, both prescription and over the
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