How is restless legs treated?

Restless legs describes an urge to move the legs, often with crawling, pulling or uncomfortable sensations that are worse during rest and later in the day. A clinician may consider restless legs syndrome, iron deficiency, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy or a medicine effect when assessing it.

Questions about sleep, timing, movement, pregnancy, diet and medicines help distinguish the symptom from cramps or nerve pain. A blood test may be used to check iron and other relevant results.

Keep a steady sleep routine and try walking, stretching, massage or a warm bath before bed. Reduce evening caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, and record triggers. Review medicines with a clinician rather than stopping a prescribed medicine yourself.

Iron supplementation may be recommended when testing shows deficiency. The dose and duration should be guided by a clinician. If symptoms continue despite these steps, a doctor can discuss other medicines and monitor their effects.

Book an appointment if the symptom repeatedly interrupts sleep, limits sitting or travelling, or is becoming more frequent. Seek urgent help for sudden weakness, new loss of bladder or bowel control, or a swollen painful leg with chest pain or breathlessness.

What could be causing my restless legs? Should I have iron or other blood tests? Could any of my medicines be involved? When would iron supplementation or another prescription be appropriate?