I was wondering what meds you all have used for RLS. What works/doesn't work for you?
Narcotics/Opiates are not an option for me because of previous dependency issues unrelated to the RLS.
I am so grateful for your help! Luckily I have a very patient Shih Tzu that will lay on my legs regardless of the bouncing. 
Hi, rlshelp.org the treatment page gives a list of meds available for RLS. Tells you a bit about them and lists ones which are not Narcotic/Opiate. Its all trial and error on what will work for you, as the meds work differently for everyone.
Great link Elisse, I thought I had exhausted my drug options, I have some reading to do before my next GP appointment, (I was hoping for sex to be on that list so I could tell my wife, but alas, no, I might make it up anyway 
).
One drug not on there is Kratom, which I and others have mentioned before. It does work on the opioid receptors however it is much less likely to cause dependence problems like codeine or morphine, (I hear you about your addiction and knowing people with that problem I can understand why you would want to avoid that monkey - good luck).
Best that I have experienced that is drug free is:
walking up and down the stairs on my tiptoes, (although an hour of that is bloody exhausting);
Hot baths and by hot I mean as hot as you can tolerate for me it brings about an hour of relief in the early stages maybe around half hour when it has set in well for the night.
Sex, not only does the active part act as good distraction, (even if I say so myself ), but the post coital glow for me can give me an hour or more relief maybe the oxytocins effect on Cytokines, (which appear more with inflammation and possibly why up to 30% of those with Rheumatoid Arthritis have RLS dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/352782 ).
Whatever you go for read, read and read again. When you have done that post on-line and ask for as much advice as you can then speak freely with your Dr and anyone else who will listen. I thought I had properly researched Miripexin before starting yet had completely missed the augmentation that can occur - to my continuing discomfort!
Best of luck with your search.
Hi raffs, the drug Kratom wouldnt be on any list for meds to take, unless it had been studied and given approval for use. Good luck on getting sex on the list pass your wife, i am sure she wont fall for that..!! 
I have all but given up on the sex thing, women are just to smart/resistant to my charms 
no silver lining to my RLS cloud.
Re: drugs and testing the rlshelp.org site mentions "recreational medication" (bit of a misnomer imho) citing Cannabis, (well they call it marijuana but that is like calling cocaine 'Bolivian Marching Powder'!), and anecdotal evidence.
We can see form this site a number of individuals citing anecdotal evidence. I know I am beating a drum on this one but without it I really don't think I would cope
Yes, i know that Cannabis is mentioned on that site, but the doctor who's site it is cant tell anyone to try it or give his approval of it. But he always lists anything anyone sends in which they say has helped them. Have you looked at that list, makes your eyes boggle with what people have said has helped them, but if any of it has then all good for them. I know almost all States now have lifted the ban on Cannabis, Its still illegal here in the UK.
I long for the day that cannabis is made legal, (I do believe in strict controls as with any drug and as evidence dictates cannabis is not good for growing minds so it would be out for the under 21's), it will bring relief to so many.
The list on rlshelp gives me so much hope I am so glad to have seen your post. I must drop him an email with my own experience.
I live in AZ U.S.A. and spent a lot of money to get qualified for medical marijuana and tried it for two months. No help for me. Just slowed up my mind and made my vision worse. A big waste of time and money unless one just wants to get high. Not for me.
Thank you all for your suggestions! I'm really appreciate it. I've heard about Kratom before. But I've never known anyone who has tried it other than what I've seen on web forums such as this one. I'm a bit hesitant to try something so unfamiliar, which also seems to carry some controversy along with it. I try to be as holistic/natural as possible. I'm not inherently opposed to the use of marijuana for it's health benefits, but because I have addictive tendencies I'm less "gung-ho" about seeking it out. I also have young children, and I wouldn't feel comfortable using that while they are in my care.
Let me ask, do any of you experience a great deal of anxiety? The RLS has never been an issue until after taking narcotics off and on for dental problems. After being on them so frequently, I realized I was using them as a crutch which scared me. So I ran to a doctor for Suboxone (which in retrospect I didn't need, one of my worst decisions ever) and was stuck in that rut for about a year and a half. After finally getting off of that last summer, I've had an unbelievable amount of anxiety with RLS. But I'm hesitant to jump on more meds to relieve symptoms that I never had prior to Suboxone. I've never done drugs (besides pharmaceutical drugs prescribed to me), and I like to think I've got a good head on my shoulders. But I'm really frustrated...do I try to wait it out and let my body "recover" or accept the fact that anxiety is a part of my life now? I've been on 200mg of Zoloft (increased from 100mg during the Suboxone withdrawal period). Besides occasional use of Trazadone for sleep, I'm not on any other medications.
What is wrong with me?
Tá mé leithscéal as do Trioblóidí chara, (I'm guessing from your name there is some Irish in there), regarding prescription meds. Believe me I work in health and would research as far as possible via the net any substance I intend to ingest.
Kratom has limited potential for harm when compared to the drugs prescribed by Drs. It is a sad fact that anything that brings relief can be habit forming/addictive. Some substances have low abuse potential yet are still abused by people trying to escape either emotional or physical pain, (in my experience the majority of those with addictions have been trying to medicate some emotional pain although I have met plenty addicted that started meds after road accidents/falls/etc).
Please be aware that as Kratom appears along side Novel Psychoactive Substances, (bath salts/legal highs), it WILL be lumped in with them, a bit like including Aspirin with Crack Cocaine!!!
'Victims' of Kratom are hard to find in its long history and if you follow the link to erowid below you will see of 5 'Kratom Psychosis' subjects 2 were addicts to other substances one misusing alcohol and no proper information to ascertain if the others were caused by/influenced by/had nothing to do with Kratom!
erowid.org/plants/kratom/kr...
Personally I have been using it for months, as with all opioid acting drugs care must be taken - I watch dose, only take once a day to get me over the worst period of the RLS and have set limits on how early I can use it. I had been taking prescribe Tramadol near the top of the dose and stopped cold turkey last year due to lessening effects - that was a tough month, even a day off it and I would have noticed withdrawal, (was dependant on it for pain management but thankfully not addicted), nothing like that has occurred with Kratom
As I only take around 7 grams and there is no discernible change in my personality or behaviour, (wife will ask if I have taken it and has claimed she cannot tell if I have it), so there are no worries about it affecting my ability to parent.
Windwalker - I have found cannabis to be very strain dependant - some strains gave me great relief Sensi star was great as was Strawberry Cough but a high CBD strain did very little, (there are literally thousands of strains it is mind boggling how they can all be different!!).
Personally I think that cannabis works like opioids in altering the perception of pain as opposed to eradicating it. I use cannabis occasionally - I don't like to use it due to its illegality and the smell of using it but if I get a good strain that works I will go for it as the harsh reality of pacing to the point of exhaustion can be too much at times.
It sounds like your RLS was never much of a problem until you started with certain pain relievers and now Zoloft. I, for one, have no doubt, that if you could switch out the Zoloft for an RLS friendly anti-anxiety med, such as the trazodone only, that you would go back to your old RLS self. I can handle anxiety, I can't handle RLS. But that's me. Which is more debilitating for you?
The Zolaft and Trazadone are both SSRI antidepressants and both have been known to exacerbate RLS.
Also in the UK NICE guidelines advise against using two antidepressants at once, better taking a larger dose of one than two. From my reading most/all antidepressants adversely effect RLS with the possible exception of Zyban, (Bupropion).
Trazadone is one that is more likely to be RLS friendly . Look at the treatment page on rlshelp.org
From the rlshelp.org treatment page.
Trazadone may not help RLS but it does not seem to worsen the condition
As Elisse says check out rlshelp.org , that's where I got my advice, as it says:
"Antidepressants can worsen RLS symptoms more often than help them", (anyone know how to bold or italic text?).
Personally I have tried 4 antidepressants both SSRI and NSRI with an exacerbation of RLS by all. Not willing to try any more at present
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