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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 May;57(5):761–789. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02220.x

Table 5. Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement of sleep (RLS/PLMS).

Recommendations Quality of Evidence (with references) Strength of Evidence
1. Patients with sleep onset insomnia should be asked about uncomfortable leg sensations. III 90,127,132 A
2. Patients with RLS should have a serum ferritin level checked. III 137 B
3. Dopaminergic agents are the first-line treatment for RLS. II 139 B
4. Patients who are treated with dopaminergic agents should be warned about the possibility of augmentation. III 90,132 A
5. Periodic limb movements rarely need to be treated with medication in the absence of RLS symptoms. III 144,146 B