Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a real medical condition—but its name and strange-sounding symptoms sometimes have stirred up controversy.To set the record straight, we took a look at 12 commonly believed "facts" about RLS.   View slideshow

Could you have restless legs syndrome? RLS can be tricky to diagnose, largely because symptoms tend to be worse at night and less obvious in the doctor's office. Click to see the signs and symptoms that are used to diagnose the condition.   View slideshow

If you have—or think you might have—restless legs syndrome, it can be hard to find straight answers. To help you find the answers you need, we've combed the Web for the most helpful and reputable online resources.   View slideshow

No one knows for sure why restless legs syndrome acts up at night, but sufferers know that it does. For many RLS patients, the main motivation to seek treatment is their inability to sleep well. Here, three patients discuss how the condition has affected their slumber...  Read More

Restless legs syndrome can strike at any age—and doctors still aren't sure why or how it affects certain people. Hannah Trahan, a children's speech therapist in Dartmouth, Mass., has experienced RLS symptoms for most of her life...  Read More

If you take medication to control restless legs syndrome, you may at some point experience augmentation—the worsening of symptoms as your body becomes tolerant to the drug.

RLS seems to be caused, in part, by a shortage of dopamine in the brain, so physicians often prescribe dopamine agonists such as ropinirole (Requip) and pramipexole (Mirapex) to relieve symptoms quickly and effectively. Although the medications are not without side effects, many patients can take them for years and experience significant improvement.  Read More

Many people found themselves in one of two camps regarding the restless legs syndrome (RLS) publicity a few years ago. Either they suffered the weird symptoms described in the ads and felt a jolt of recognition, or they wondered if someone was playing a joke on an overmedicated country.

Here was a list of funny-sounding symptoms and a new prescription drug, yet no diagnostic test to document the condition's existence. RLS joined a growing family of disorders (including fibromyalgia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that are in debate, while patients fought to be taken seriously.  Read More