When your legs won’t stop crawling, tingling, or aching—especially at night—you’re not just tired. You’re dealing with restless legs syndrome, a neurological disorder that triggers an irresistible urge to move your legs, often disrupting sleep and daily life. Also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, it affects up to 10% of adults and gets worse with age.
RLS treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. For many, low iron levels are the hidden cause. Studies show that even if your blood count looks normal, low ferritin (the stored form of iron) can trigger symptoms. That’s why doctors often check ferritin before prescribing anything else. If it’s under 50 mcg/L, iron supplements can make a real difference—no magic pill needed. But if iron’s fine, the issue might be dopamine. RLS is tied to how your brain uses dopamine, the same chemical affected in Parkinson’s. That’s why medications like dopamine agonists, drugs that mimic dopamine’s effects in the brain to reduce leg movements—such as ropinirole or pramipexole—are common first-line treatments. They help, but they can cause side effects like nausea, dizziness, or even sudden sleep attacks. That’s why timing matters: taking them too early in the day can make you crash, too late and they won’t touch nighttime symptoms.
But not everyone needs drugs. Simple habits like avoiding caffeine after noon, cutting back on alcohol, and walking for 10 minutes before bed can reduce symptoms for many. And don’t overlook sleep hygiene. If you’re already on meds but still tossing and turning, poor sleep habits might be sabotaging your progress. The same strategies that help with insomnia—consistent bedtime, cool room, no screens—also calm RLS. Some people find relief with compression socks, leg massages, or even cold packs. Others swear by magnesium, though evidence is mixed. What’s clear? RLS treatment works best when it’s layered: fix the iron, manage dopamine, then build habits that protect your sleep.
And here’s the thing: RLS doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s linked to kidney disease, pregnancy, diabetes, and even some antidepressants. If your symptoms started after beginning a new med, talk to your doctor. You might need to switch. The posts below cover everything from how to spot early signs of RLS to which drugs can make it worse, how to track symptoms over time, and what to ask your neurologist when nothing seems to help. No fluff. Just what works—and what doesn’t.
Restless Leg Syndrome treatment has shifted away from dopamine agonists due to long-term risks like augmentation. Learn why alpha-2-delta ligands like gabapentin enacarbil are now first-line, how iron and lifestyle changes help, and what to do if you're already on a dopamine drug.
