Medical Treatment

The first principle of therapy to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is to avoid substances or foods that may be causing or worsening the problem. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine may partly relieve your symptoms. Your health care provider should review your medications and determine whether any drug you are taking could be causing the problem.

Any underlying medical conditions, such as anemia, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, kidney disease, thyroid disease, varicose veins, or Parkinson disease, should be treated. Dietary supplements to correct vitamin or mineral deficiency may be recommended. In some cases, these treatments relieve RLS symptoms.

You may benefit from physical therapy, such as stretching, hot or cold baths, whirlpool baths, hot or cold packs, limb massage, or vibratory or electrical stimulation of the feet and toes before bedtime. Exercise and relaxation techniques also may be helpful.