Q:
After seeing a decent amount of success from my dopamine prescription, I stopped taking it every night and now only take it when I feel my symptoms coming on. Do I need to take it every night?
A:
Absolutely not. Dopamine agonists don't have a protective value—they merely relieve the symptoms when you have them. Some data has actually shown that taking it more than necessary could cause you to develop a tolerance to the medicine.
Finding a medication schedule that works for you will require some trial and error. It takes approximately two hours from the time of administration for dopamine agonists to be fully effective, so waiting to take your pill right at the peak of your nighttime symptoms is often too late for it to start working. If you find that you have frequent episodes when you don’t take your medication, try to anticipate the usual time that symptoms may begin in order to time administration of your medication optimally. Of course, these strategies are best discussed with your sleep care provider.
Q:
My RLS is normally under control when I've had a fair amount of exercise or movement during the day, but worse on days when I move too much or too little. Is there anything I can do to curb the symptoms on more sedentary or very active days?
A:
The onset of RLS symptoms has not been clinically linked to daytime activities—but some patients feel that exercise during the day or stretching before bed helps keep their symptoms under control. Other patients have actually reported that extreme exercise during the day seems to make their RLS worse at night. It may help to keep a log of your activities and symptoms, to see if any daytime habits seem to have a consistent effect on your legs. And, if you engage in a fair amount of exercise, you should talk to your doctor and try to set limits to avoid overexertion.
Q:
I kick so much in my sleep that my husband refuses to sleep in the same bed as me. But I fall asleep right away, and never have problems while I'm awake. Is this RLS? Is there any way to stop it, for the sake of our marriage?
A:
If you don't fill the four criteria, then you do not have RLS. Just kicking alone is not RLS. It's possible that you've developed something else like periodic limb movements, which is a normal phenomenon that occurs with age or as a side effect of certain medications or other medical conditions. If the kicking is really disrupting your husband, you should discuss it with your doctor.
Q:
My legs seem more restless during the day than at night. Could my problem be something more serious than RLS?
A:
If your symptoms are worse during the day than at night it does not fit the criteria for RLS. You and your doctor should consider other causes like neurological conditions, back conditions, and arthritis.
Sleep:Restless Legs Syndrome
Health Journey
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