Your Doctor & Restless Leg Syndrome

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Your Doctor and Restless Leg Syndrome

Published on: August 8, 2005

If you find yourself tossing and turning at night because of

restless leg syndrome (RLS), your doctor may be able to help.

Medications are available to lessen the uncontrollable urge to move

your legs due to the uncomfortable sensations of RLS.

First, your doctor will rule out specific medical conditions that

may cause symptoms similar to RLS, or make RLS symptoms worse,

including diabetes, kidney disease, anemia and certain types of

nerve damage. Checking for these conditions may involve a blood

test, urine analysis or a neurological exam.

Blood tests may be used to measure iron levels in the body. Anemia

and diseases that cause iron deficiencies have been associated with

RLS, and supplementing your diet with iron, vitamin B12 or folate

may help to relieve symptoms. But the use of some minerals can upset

delicate chemical balances in the body, so mineral supplements

should be used only under the direction of your doctor.

Your doctor will also ask what medications you are currently taking.

Some drugs, including those used to treat high blood pressure, some

heart conditions, nausea, colds, allergies, other sleep problems and

depression can worsen the symptoms of RLS.

Prior to your physical exam, your doctor will ask you to describe

your symptoms. He or she will ask when and how unpleasant sensations

in your legs interfere with sleep and your daytime life. After other

conditions have been excluded, a diagnosis of RLS ultimately rests

on this discussion.

Currently, no medications are specifically approved for treating

RLS, but doctors have a great deal of experience and success using

medications that are approved for other purposes to help quiet your

legs. There are four main classes of drugs that are believed to be

effective:

Dopaminergic Agents

Drugs that are used to treat Parkinson's disease are often the first

ones prescribed in the treatment of RLS. These are called

dopaminergic receptor agonists, and they mimic the effects of the

neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. It is believed that low

levels of dopamine in the body may induce RLS symptoms.

Sedatives

Sedatives can help patients suffering from mild RLS. Sometimes they

are used in addition to a dopaminergic agent.

Opioids

A group of drugs to relieve pain, called opioids, can be useful,

too. These drugs also promote relaxation. They are usually reserved

for severe cases of RLS.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants can be useful for some patients who have daytime

symptoms of RLS.

Whatever degree of RLS symptoms you have, it's important to talk

with your doctor. Whether it is to recommend a change in lifestyle

or to prescribe medicine, doctors can usually help RLS patients lead

better, more rested lives.

Source: Healthology, Inc.