Treatment Options Available for Restless Legs Syndrome

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

The usual treatment (conventional) for Restless legs syndrome (RLS) includes lifestyle improvements, self-help techniques and relaxation techniques. When these are not enough to relieve the symptoms of RLS then medications are often the next step.

The first class of medications that doctor's treating RLS turn to is the Primary Class of RLS medications.

This primary class includes:

Sedative/hypnotic medication - Benzodiazepines and related drugs

Benzodiazepines sedatives (Restoril, Dalmane, Doral, Prosom, Xanax, Valium, Klonopin/Rivotril, Ativan, Serax)

Non-Benzodiazepines Sedatives (Ambien, Sonata, Imovane, Lunesta)

Drugs that are used to treat Parkinson's Disease - Dopaminergic Drugs (Sinemet, Pariodel, Eldepryl/Deprenyl, Mirapex, Requip, Dostinex, Tasmar, Comtan, Symmetrel, the Neupro patch

Analgesic (pain killers) Medications - Opiates/Narcotics that are habit forming (addictive)

Anti-Seizure Medications (Neurontin, Tegretol, Depakene, Mysoline, Keppra, Gabitril, Topamax, Lyrica)

There is secondary class of RLS medications that physicians can turn to if relief is not found using the primary class of RLS medications.

There are recreational medication like Marijuana, and other new experimental mediations like Botox.

Then there are the other RLS/PLMD treatments or therapies that will only work for some RLS patients but not all of them. This includes iron therapy, Folic Acid supplement, Vitamin B12, and also Magnesium.

Patients who have both RLS and varicose veins may benefit from receiving surgical treatment such as sclerotherapy of varicose veins.

Non-drug treatment for RLS consists of neuromuscular stimulation, mental activity such as doing mathematical calculation, crossword puzzles, and other mental games that allow the patient to take their mind off of the sensations in their limbs.

Physical measures/activity (stretching exercises, leg wrapping, foot tickling)

Other non-conventional treatments for RLS may not work for everyone who tries them and are not included in standard treatment because they have not been accepted by scientific method. These treatments have not undergone any of the rigorous clinical trials or statistical analysis that the conventional treatments have undergone. The non-conventional treatments should be discussed with a physician familiar with RLS before the patient pursues them.

The non-conventional treatments for RLS include:

* Enzyme Therapy

* Colloidal vitamins/supplements therapy

* Calcium Therapy

* St. John's Wort

* Urine Therapy

* Water Therapy

* Brewers Yeast Therapy

Now that we've covered those aspects of RLS, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered such as:

* Avoid foods grown with Pesticides (eating organically grown foods)

* Avoid sugar

* Avoid Mono and Diglycerides

* Consider Herbal Therapy

* Hydergine, DPLA, and Kava kava

* Reflexology

* Vegetable oil massage therapy

* Enermed pulsed electromagnetic field generator

* Foot Zoning as part of reflexology

* Wearing devices on your feet called Cramp Busters

There are also many drugs and foods that have been shown to be useful to AVOID when trying to relieve symptoms of RLS, they include:

* Ice Cream

* Caffeine (food and beverage)

* Antihistamines

* Antidepressants

* Antinausea medications

* Cough Syrups

* Antipsychotic Medications

* Bladder Control Drugs

* Alcohol

If you have been prescribed any medications for depression, bladder infections, psychotic episodes or any other medical condition in which these drugs to be avoided are being prescribed for you, please discuss possible RLS adverse effects. Do not take yourself off any medications that have been prescribed for you without a doctor's advise to do so.