Does anyone know the cause of Restless Leg Syndrome?

The cause of mine was SEROQUEL and the generic one, too. Do you happen to take that? If I hadn’t fallen asleep within 30 minutes of taking it, the RLS began and my nasal passages closed up, completely. The generic was the worst.
Drinking pickle juice helped with the RLS, sometimes.
I had to stop taking it; now, my night
terrors are back….
Good luck.

I was told it is the lack of dopamine in brain .

It turns out there is a new theory. There is reason to believe that RLS is caused by an over active Hypothalamus (part of the brain that does regulatory work). The idea is that it is being activated for some reason (still unknown) but since it is activated it goes about looking for something to do. That something becomes RLS. There is a new device called Relaxis that has been approved by the FDA to treat RLS. It is the only non-pharmacological treatment know by science. It is a vibrating pad that works for a half hour at a time (you can restart sessions over and over as needed). The idea is that you sit on the pad or put it under you while sleeping and the vibrating gives the hypothalamus something to do, so being occupied it does not create RLS symptoms. I have had good luck with the device (good luck here means, I have decreased other drugs).

RLS seems to be triggered by inflammation, nutritional deficiencies and or hormonal imbalance. Patients suffering RLS symptoms tend to benefit from adequate folic acid, magnesium, hydration, exercise, and stretching. Avoiding caffeine, sweets and diphenhydramine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime has also proven beneficial. Trazodone and Clonazepam, one or both have shown success. Melatonin supplements tend to increase symptoms of RLS.

I'm newly diagnosed with this syndrome and looking for suggestions and answers. I currently take 30 mg of Restoril for my insomnia issues ... and the doc has suggested Klonopin since it's in the same family and has a long half life. She also suggested Requip or Mirapex ... does any one have experience with any of these three meds? They are all new to me at this point. Thanks! At least it's not apnea :)

When I was on Tramadol at a low dose, 100mg for back pain it took my RLS away 100%. Now that I'm not on Tramadol I take the lowest does .125mg of Mirapex and it works about 99% of the time. I also take 0.5mg Ativan a few hours before bed for anxiety as well. Hope you find something, I know how utterly terrible RLS is, I have it in my arms, stomach, legs... everywhere!

I have read the lack of IRON. Something to do with the lack of it getting to where it nneds to be... and I think that was the brain. Recently a doctor suggested to get Iron w/o sulfer. I have yet to get it but its suggested to absorb better.

I had RLS in my 40s as well. It went away and maybe you can stop having it too. A deficiency in Iron in the Brain can cause it. I had Uterine Fibroid Tumors and was losing a great deal of blood. I took an Iron supplement for awhile. I noticed that after taking the supplement that the RLS went away. I also was diagnosed as having Parkinson's Disease as well. I prayed to Almighty God that my neurologist was wrong. I went to another neurologist for a second opinion. He thought I didn't have it. I stopped taking the Parkinson's medication and didn't get the symptoms back. The power of prayer is awesome. Give it a try. Don't know how to pray? Just talk to God. You don't need fancy prayers. He will listen anyway.

my guess is it might be the ativan that you are taking, if you can quite it for awhile to see if that might be your problem.. ask dr,. to see what he has to say about it

When I was on Tramadol for back pain it took my RLS away 100%. I'm now on Mirapex and it helps most nights. The last 2 nights it's not been working as good. I get RLS in my whole body but when I just have it in my legs I'll use a heated rub for arthritis type pain, the heat takes my mind off it and sometimes will do the trick and let me get some sleep. Hope you find something that works, I know how debilitating this is. Kim.

Marjorie,
I don't think anybody knows the cause yet. I understand your near insanity--I feel the same way. I use Sinemet (the same drug they use for Parkinson's). It works very well for me at night. I take one an hour before bedtime and one extended release Sinemet tablet right when I get in bed. This usually lets me get 5-6 hours of sleep.
Sleepless in QBY

I have been on pramipexole for over 10 years. I find that I need to take it about 4 or 5 hours before bed time. Yes if I don't take it I can not stand it. I deliver busses and left my pramipexole in KS on my way to Calif. I call my dr and stopped in Flagstaff AZ @ wal*mart to have my prescription filled. Beleave me I don't forget anymore. I set my alarm on my cell phone to remind me when it time to take pramipexole.

I too would recommend clonazepam, start low 1 mg.-2mg. Try to stop requip, I don't think it is right for you. Clonazepam also helps with sleep, larger doses can cause some foggy feelings during the day. Sometimes restless legs are caused by drugs, for example, cymbalta. Ask your pharmacist--they are the best experts on drugs and drug interactions.
I know your pain. Keep searching, there is an answer! jcoffman

my husband also worries about how this rls and ras keeps me up, i find instead of rolling around in bed, i get up, go to the table with my laptop, read, drink my coffee and come to this site, with in an hour or two, its gone and im able to get back to bed.some say, and it does help is percocet. but like with my rls, its worse because im trying to taper off of percocet. i also had one dr point at my head like i was nuts, saying its neurological