Restless legs syndrome

Also called restless legs or periodic limb movements of sleep

Key points about restless legs syndrome

  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is an urge to move your legs due to uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in them.
  • It affects about 7 in 100 adults – it's twice as common in women and gets worse with age.
  • It can sometimes also affect your arms or other body parts.
  • The main symptom is a strong, overwhelming urge to move the affected part of your body, which will usually make you feel better for a short time.
  • Treatment focuses on the underlying cause, lifestyle changes for milder symptoms or medicines for severe symptoms.
  • RLS is a common cause of sleep problems and daytime sleepiness.
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RLS is a condition in which you have an unpleasant feeling or sensation, usually in the calves of your legs, that results in a strong, uncontrollable urge to move your legs.

  • The symptoms are usually brought on by rest and are worse in the evening or night.
  • Movement such as walking or stretching brings relief for a short time, but the symptoms usually return once you settle into a restful state.
  • Both legs may be affected or one may be worse than the other.
  • Sometimes other parts of your body, such as your arms or lower back, may be affected.
  • RLS can affect your sleep and lead to tiredness, feeling sleepy or trouble concentrating. If this happens, see your doctor and get help to manage your symptoms.

Note: Nocturnal (night-time) leg cramps are different from restless legs. A single jerky movement in the early stages of sleep is common in one third of people and is normal.

The exact cause of RLS is uncertain, but it is thought to involve your nervous system. It may be genetic (a condition that runs in families). If your parents had RLS, your risk of having it is 30–50% higher. 

Some medical conditions may trigger or be associated with RLS

Pregnancy (usually in the last trimester), can also cause RLS. RLS due to pregnancy often gets better on its own within a month after delivery.

Some medicines may cause RLS, eg, some antidepressants, sedating antihistamines and antipsychotics such as haloperidol, quetiapine or olanzapine.

The common symptom of RLS is that you have a strong, overwhelming urge to move the affected part of your body, usually your leg. Symptoms can range from a mild feeling of restlessness in your legs on some evenings, to a more severe problem that occurs every evening and night (and, sometimes, during the day) which regularly disturbs sleep. Many people fall somewhere in between these extremes.

  • You may also get an uncomfortable or tingling sensation such as 'pins and needles', prickling, pulling or crawling.
  • These feelings begin about 15 minutes after you lie down to sleep or to relax or when you have not moved for long periods, such as when travelling in a car or airplane.
  • Moving will usually make you feel better, at least for a short time. 

Most of the time RLS can be diagnosed by your GP or neurologist without any special tests. However, blood tests may be required to look for possible triggers.

If you have a medical condition causing or aggravating RLS, such as iron deficiency, treating it may resolve your symptoms. A change of medication may be advised if a side effect from a medicine is thought to be responsible.

Lifestyle changes

Sometimes a few lifestyle changes may be enough to control your symptoms such as:

  • stopping smoking
  • limiting or avoiding alcohol and caffeine
  • keep your bedroom cool, quiet and comfortable, and using it only for sleeping, not for watching TV or scrolling through social media
  • getting regular exercise – try walking before bedtime or doing gentle leg stretches for 5 minutes before you sleep
  • eating a healthy diet
  • massaging or soaking the affected leg or arm
  • using heat or ice packs on the affected leg or arm
  • doing distracting activities such as reading to reduce awareness of symptoms.

Medication

When symptoms are more severe, medicines may help control the urge to move and help you sleep. Different types of medicine may help, such as pramipexole, ropinirole, carbamazepine, gabapentin and pregabalin. You may have to try a few to find the one that works best for you. They each have their own risks and benefits.

Apps reviewed by Healthify

You may find it useful to look at some Nutrition, exercise and weight management apps, Self-management and healthy living apps, and Quit smoking apps.

The following links provide further information on restless legs syndrome. Be aware that websites from other countries may contain information that differs from New Zealand recommendations:

Restless legs syndrome(external link) Patient Info, UK
Restless legs syndrome fact sheet(external link) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, US

Apps

Nutrition, exercise and weight management apps
Self-management and healthy living apps
Quit smoking apps

Clinical resources and guidelines

The night time hustle – managing restless legs syndrome in adults(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2012
Garcia-Borreguero D, Kohnen R, Silber MH, et al. The long-term treatment of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease – evidence-based guidelines and clinical consensus best practice guidance – a report from the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group.(external link) Sleep Med. 2013 Jul;14(7):675-84.

Goodfellow Gem: Dopamine agonists may be effective for restless legs 

Restless legs syndrome is defined as an urge to move legs often accompanied by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs. Check ferritin and reverse iron deficiency first.

Tools for Practice1 reported on a systematic review on pramipexole. Dopamine agonists can be considered as first-line treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) but be aware of adverse effects such as augmentation (paradoxical increase in RLS symptom severity following initial symptom reduction), loss of impulse control, and drowsiness.

Initiate treatment with pramipexole; starting dose 0.25 mg, maximal dose 0.75 mg. The NNT is about 5. Ropinirole is another option, with a starting dose of 0.125 mg, maximal dose 4 mg orally once daily 2 hours before bedtime. These medications are also used in treating Parkinson’s Disease, and both are funded in New Zealand.

Reference: A good sleep would be dop(aminergic) doc! Pramipexole in restless legs syndrome(external link) Tools for Practice #275, 2020

Apps

Nutrition, exercise and weight management apps
Self-management and healthy living apps
Quit smoking apps

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Credits: Healthify editorial team. Brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Reviewed by: Dr Jeremy Steinberg, FRNZCGP

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