Last reviewed: July 2019
Last updated: March  2019

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • dysaesthesias
  • evening symptoms
  • relieving factors (movement, stretching, massage)
  • location in lower extremities, less commonly upper extremities and torso
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • alcohol use
  • caffeine use
Full details

Risk factors

  • conditions associated with iron deficiency
  • pregnancy
  • family history of RLS
  • use of antidepressants, antihistamines, and metoclopramide
  • increased age
  • female sex
  • smoking
  • obesity
  • diabetes mellitus
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

primary RLS

secondary RLS

Contributors

Authors VIEW ALL

Sleep Physician

AC Wellness

Cupertino

CA

Disclosures

NV declares that he has no competing interests.

Acting Medical Director

Stanford Sleep Medicine Center

Director

Stanford Center for Human Sleep Research

Associate Professor

Stanford University Medical Center

Stanford Sleep Medicine Center

Redwood City

CA

Disclosures

CAK has received research grant support from XenoPort, the manufacturer of gabapentin enacarbil, and is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers VIEW ALL

Associate Professor

Interdisciplinary Pain Center and Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

University Medical Center Freiburg

Freiburg

Germany

Disclosures

MH declares that she has no competing interests.

Professor of Medicine

Head of Division of Sleep Medicine

Department of Medicine

National Jewish Health

Denver

CO

Disclosures

TLC declares that he has no competing interests.

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