What is restless legs syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the legs and an urge to move them for relief; usually occurs during periods of inactivity, particularly at night. RLS sensations may also be felt in the arms or other parts of the body.

How do members experience restless legs syndrome?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with restless legs syndrome*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for restless legs syndrome*

*Data from patients with restless legs syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with restless legs syndrome*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Requip)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (13)
Treatment

(Mirapex)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (8 evaluations)
Side effects
compulsive shopping or spending weight gain
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (6)
Treatment

(Sinemet)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment

(Neupro Patch)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)

*Data from patients with restless legs syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has restless legs syndrome on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 8
20s 47
30s 232
40s 576
50s 1,097
60s 1,204
70+ 826

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 669
Female 3,283

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What is restless legs syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the legs and an urge to move them for relief; usually occurs during periods of inactivity, particularly at night. RLS sensations may also be felt in the arms or other parts of the body.



Common symptoms reported by people with restless legs syndrome

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for restless legs syndrome

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Requip)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
680
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (13)
Treatment name(s)

(Mirapex)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
490
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Sinemet)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
210
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
614
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Neupro Patch)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
30
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)

Data from patients with restless legs syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with restless legs syndrome

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Requip)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (13)
Treatment name(s)

(Mirapex)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (8 evaluations)
Side effects
compulsive shopping or spending weight gain
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Sinemet)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Neupro Patch)
Perceived effectiveness
for restless legs syndrome (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
restless legs syndrome (2)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with restless legs syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has restless legs syndrome on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 4 new patients joined this month
  • 884 say restless legs syndrome (RLS) is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 8
20s 47
30s 232
40s 576
50s 1,097
60s 1,204
70+ 826
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 338
20-29 years 287
30-39 years 428
40-49 years 407
50-59 years 201
60-69 years 48
70+ years 14

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 669
Female 3,283

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 1,875
Not Diagnosed 271

These charts show data from restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: