Dopamine for Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition. It is marked by an intense desire to move the legs to relieve uncomfortable sensations while at the body is at rest. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports that restless leg syndrome may affect up to 12 million Americans.

• Sleepless

Sensations

• The sensations that RLS sufferers experience can be mild but can be severe enough to cause pain. The sensations are frequently described as burning, crawling and tugging.

Causes

• Many cases of RLS are without a known cause, but the condition may be genetic and is also linked with hormone problems, anemia, Parkinson's disease and pregnancy.

Dopamine

• An imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects movement, has also been suggested as a cause for RLS. Dopamine levels decrease at night and are also tied to iron levels.

Medication

• Dopaminergic drugs, which increase dopamine levels, are frequently used as a first treatment for RLS. Other medications sometimes prescribed include sedatives, opiates (Darvon, for example) and anticonvulsants.

Support

• An article published in "Brain," a neurology journal, suggests that dopamine abnormalities are caused by iron deficiencies, as evidenced by examination of brain tissue samples from RLS sufferers obtained during autopsy.