To prevent restless legs syndrome (RLS), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – iron deficiency; see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Pleasure food consumption
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Tobacco (smoking)
- Drug use
- Opiates – powerful painkillers such as morphine.
- Sleep deprivation – this can have an acute exacerbating effect on restless legs syndrome
Medication
- Antidepressants (drugs for depression) – esp. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants.
- Antipsychotics (neuroleptics/nerve depressants) that act antagonistically at the dopamine D2 receptor; lithium.
- Metoclopramide (antiemetic/anti-nausea medication).
Prevention factors
- Genetic factors:
- Genetic risk reduction depending on gene polymorphisms:
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Gene: BTBD9
- SNP: rs3923806 in gene BTBD9
- Allele constellation: AG (0.57-fold).
- Allele constellation: AA (0.32-fold)
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Genetic risk reduction depending on gene polymorphisms: