Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a neurological condition often marked by a tingling sensation in the legs that keeps patients up nights, can be challenging to diagnose -- and manage. One reason: The exact cause of the disease is unknown. Another: It's not the only condition that can produce such symptoms. Others include arthritis, thrombosis, bursitis and muscle fatigue. If symptoms persist, see your doctor.
Here are some common treatments found to have brought some people relief, according to the National Institutes of Health, the National Sleep Foundation and neurologist Helene Emsellem, director of the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase.
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• Home remedies
Get up and walk around the house for a few minutes; activity tends to stop uncomfortable sensations.
Try warmth and stimulation; stretch and massage your leg muscles or take a hot bath.
Caffeine, cigarettes and other stimulants can exacerbate symptoms, so avoid them in the evening.
If you're taking antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- a class that includes Prozac and Paxil -- consult your doctor about alternatives. These drugs can precipitate RLS by inhibiting dopamine transmission.
Try changing your sleep pattern: RLS tends to be worse between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., when the body's dopamine levels dip.
• Mainstream medical treatments
Because of the myriad possible causes of RLS and the different body systems involved, a treatment that works for one patient may not work for another. Your doctor may need to try a few approaches before finding what works for you:
