Restless legs syndrome - myDr.com.au
Restless legs syndrome causes unpleasant sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move the legs, making it difficult to sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
Key facts
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition where you have an urge to move your legs to relieve unpleasant sensations.
- Symptoms of RLS are usually worse when you're trying to fall asleep and can stop you from getting enough sleep.
- RLS can be caused by different things, such as low iron and certain health conditions, but usually no underlying cause is found.
- It's common in late pregnancy and most of the time it goes away after the baby is born.
What is restless legs syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common condition where you have an urge to move your legs to relieve unpleasant sensations (feelings).
About 1 in 10 people will have RLS at some time in their life. It can start at any age, but the chance of getting it increases as you get older. Your chances of having RLS are higher if it runs in your family.
Restless legs syndrome and pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you are more likely to experience RLS, especially during your third trimester (Opens in new tab).
What are the symptoms of restless legs syndrome?
If you have RLS, you might have:
- unpleasant feelings in your legs, such as burning, tingling, aching, itching, pins and needles, electric currents or insects crawling under your skin
- an urge to move your legs because of these sensations
- uncontrolled twitching or jerking movements of your legs at night
- similar feelings in your arms
Symptoms are usually worse in the evening and at night, especially when you're trying to fall asleep. They often start when you're resting, lying down or sitting for a long time.
This can make it hard for you to fall asleep. RLS can also wake you up during the night. You might not get enough sleep, which can make you feel irritable (moody) or tired during the day.
You may be able to relieve your symptoms in the short-term by:
- moving around in bed
- stretching or rubbing your legs
- getting up and walking around
What causes restless legs syndrome?
RLS can be caused by many different things, including:
- iron deficiency
- pregnancy
- kidney failure
- medicines such as some antidepressants
RLS may also be related to other conditions, such as:
- diabetes
- Parkinson's disease
- multiple sclerosis (MS)
- peripheral neuropathy (a type of nerve damage)
Your symptoms may get worse if you:
- have too much caffeine
- drink alcohol, especially near bedtime
- take certain medicines, such as antihistamines and antidepressants
A lot of the time, no cause is found.
When should I see my doctor?
See your doctor if you have symptoms of RLS.
It's important to get a diagnosis and treatment because RLS can impact your sleep.
How is restless legs syndrome diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms and medical history. They will also ask what medicines you are taking.
There is no test for RLS, but you may need a blood test to rule out other reasons for your symptoms.
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist neurologist (an expert in conditions that affect your nervous system) to try to find the cause and recommend treatment.
How is restless legs syndrome treated?
If your RLS is caused by another condition, the first step is to treat that condition.
Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking any medicines that may make your symptoms worse.
Your doctor might recommend iron supplements if you have low levels of iron in your blood.
Self-care at home
There are things you can try to ease the symptoms and improve your sleep. These include:
- taking hot baths
- using heat packs or ice packs on your legs
- massaging your legs
- reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake
- stopping smoking and vaping
- doing regular exercise
- having healthy sleep habits
For many people, this is all that's needed.
You can also try to avoid anything that makes your symptoms worse, such as:
- sitting still for a long time
- long car trips
- sitting in a movie theatre
- long-distance flights
It’s also a good idea not to do things that need a high level of focus before you go to sleep, such as video games or crosswords.
Medicines for restless legs syndrome
If your symptoms still affect your sleep or quality of life after trying self-care options, there are medicines that can help. Ask your doctor if these medicines would be right for you.
Sometimes, a medicine will stop working after you've been taking it for a while. You might need to switch to a different medicine.
Resources and support
The Brain Foundation (Opens in new tab) has more information about RLS (Opens in new tab).
More information about sleep (Opens in new tab) and good sleep habits (Opens in new tab) is available from Sleep Health Foundation (Opens in new tab).
Languages other than English
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (Opens in new tab) has resources in many languages about getting better sleep (Opens in new tab).
Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
WellMob has a useful factsheet about healthy sleep habits (Opens in new tab).
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: April 2026
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