Navigating Life with Restless Legs Syndrome

Abstract Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a miserable, life-altering condition that affects millions of people around the world but is highly treatable. It is characterized by an uncomfortable feeling, typically in the legs, that is worse later in the day, worse when resting, and better with movement. This book reviews the nature of RLS and discusses how the diagnosis is made. It reviews the changes in the brain to dopamine, glutamate, and adenosine that take place to cause RLS as well as the health and social consequences faced by people with the condition. The importance of iron in managing RLS and both prescription and nonprescription therapies are described. Medications such as pramipexole, ropinirole, gabapentin, pregabalin, methadone, and buprenorphine are reviewed, including the harms, such as augmentation and impulse control disorders, caused by some of the most commonly prescribed medications for RLS. Special attention is paid to RLS in the context of pregnancy, hospitalization, dementia, COVID-19, and other medical conditions. In addition, the care of RLS in vulnerable populations is described. Important information for loved ones and caregivers is provided to help them understand the suffering that people with RLS endure and the treatment options available to them. The book closes with a look to the future of RLS and what diagnostic and treatment options might become available in the future.