Can't sleep because your legs hurt? Symptoms and Treatment of Restless Legs SyndromeNeurologists Won-Chul Shin, Won-Won Cho, Jung-Young Jung

Treatment options for restless legs syndrome are as follows:

First, iron treatment

Restless legs syndrome can be treated with iron. This is because a drop in iron in a localized area of the brain is known to be the cause of the symptoms. Increasing blood iron levels by taking or injecting iron can improve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

Second, dopaminergic drugs

The most commonly used medications for restless legs syndrome are dopamine-based drugs. When there is a lack of dopamine in the brain, the function of sensory control in the area related to the hypothalamus decreases, resulting in restless legs syndrome. Based on this theory, it is known that patients with restless legs syndrome have been prescribed dopamine preparations since the early 1990s.

However, if dopamine is taken for a long time, it can have side effects such as gambling and shopping, which make it difficult to control impulses. It is a good drug in the beginning, but you need to be careful about side effects.

Third, pregabalin & gabapentin

Pregabalin and gabapentin are drugs that were initially developed with the aim of inhibiting spasms, and have shown excellent effects in pain control. Pregabalin and gabapentin are used to treat most pain, but they have also been shown to be effective in restless legs syndrome. European and international restless legs syndrome guidelines list it as a first-line treatment on par with dopaminergic drugs, and studies have shown that it is equally effective or better than conventional dopaminergic drugs and has fewer long-term side effects.

However, it is still used in Korea for non-reimbursement, except for dopamine preparations, which has the disadvantage of high cost.