Hi everyone. Does long term use of ssri cause rls? Does caffeine have a negative impact? Does magnesium help? Thanks for taking time x

[Jumbi]

[kelka]

As far as I know, SSRI can trigger rls. So can some antipsychotic, antihistamines and over the counter decongestantants, such as sudafed ( I think its the pseudoepephrine so?).

Coffee can be a trigger, its a sensible thing to cut out. I still have a coffee in the morning, as long as I'm not getting daytime symptoms and the evening stuff is managed.

I take magnesium and find its helps sleep as long as my symptoms are managed enough to be sleeping. It makes sleep more restful.

[thedragon]

Hi jumbi....in my experience, ssri,s have not caused my rls, as I have suffered with it for 40+ years. But starting an ssri HAS made my symptoms much worse. Caffeine has no effect whatever and I have never found that magnesium tablets or sprays help at all. Hope this helps

[Jumbi in reply to thedragon]

Thanks for your response. I'm kind of stuck on ssri and it's a permanent preventative medicine so I just hope it doesn't make it gradually worse

[Jaynielynne]

I wouldn't recommend starting up a ssri if you know that you have rls.

It would be the first thing that I would look at before starting a medicine

for rls. Lots of times it's the ssri that causes it.

[Jumbi in reply to Jaynielynne]

I have ssri as a preventative medicine and will do so for rest of my life so bit concerned that the rls will worsen. Thanks for your reply

[thedragon in reply to Jumbi]

In my experience, it was a sudden onset of worsening symptoms, not gradual. I did try to change to an snri to see if that would be better. I had to gradually come off the ssri, and have a few days off then gradually start the snri. During this time my rls was much better and I thought I'd won! But the new anti d didn't work as well for me so I had to do it all again and swap back. It was a nasty time. So rls or depression....rock and a hard place. I know I will be on anti depressants for long term too. Good luck!!!

[Jumbi in reply to thedragon]

Thanks for your message. What does the ssri do for you that means it's a long term thing? You can tell me to mind my own but do you just revert to insomnia or anxiety or depression or all?

[thedragon in reply to Jumbi]

No problem ..I've always struggled with "life' basically. A couple of years ago too many things happened at once and rls was becoming unbearable too. I broke down at the docs and he forcefully suggested anti d. They have made a complete difference to the way I cope, feel, think , everything. I now feel like the person I always should have been. So I'm certain I have a genetic chemical imbalance problem.

[thedragon in reply to Jaynielynne]

I understand what you mean but sometimes there is no choice. Even though the rls is worse, I can cope, before I couldn't cope with anything.

[Jumbi in reply to thedragon]

Exactly! Tackle the bigger demon

[Hopeless100]

well, caffeine is known to aggravate RLS , Iron is sometimes a cure.

[thedragon in reply to Hopeless100]

Unfortunately I have never found a link with foodstuffs, excercise or anything. And I've tried them all!!!! Even soap in the bed!

[Jumbi in reply to thedragon]

Hi there. I'm pretty much the same. That's why i have been on them for 20 years and I have tried it all even the soap in bed! Haha. Glad you feel so much better and yourself. I can empathise