Imipramine and restless leg syndrome

[Carcol92]

I have been taking imipramine for quite a few years now. It doesn't seem as effective as it did when I first started taking it. Does anyone else take imipramine for Rls? My mum suffers also but she has been prescribed gabapentin.

[Pippins2]

Hi,i am suprised you found any relief with Imipramine as it is a tricyclic and normally would make legs worse.It is not a RLS treatment and not a med i would recommend for someone with RLS.Obviously there are exceptiond.As your mum also has RLS i guess you have Primary (genetic) and that type is progressive so you could be having some natural progression too....Pipps

[Carcol92 in reply to Pippins2]

Hi pippins, thanks so much for your reply. I think I'm definitely going to go back and see my G.P. I'm on numerous amounts of medication for various illnesses. (I have quite a few). I usually check out my meds but didn't with imipramine till now. I was surprised when the G.P prescribed gabapentin for my mum as I was on that also but for osteoarthritis. As for my Rls being primary, I think you might be right because my sister also has it.

Caz xx

[Vonnie70]

I take imipramine for my bipolar disorder tbh I feel it's caused more RLS than prior to taking them, to help my RLS I take Ropinerole, I have many good days/nights but if I get a bad one or two it's hell, keep trying them as diff meds work for different people, besides least you will be happy on the imipramine lol

[Carcol92 in reply to Vonnie70]

Hi vonnie, I'm also bipolar but take quite a high dose of lithium for that. I'm on quite a lot of meds and now wondering if they are wots making my RLS in both legs and arms worse. Defo gonna speak with my GP. Thanks

[Vonnie70]

I tried lithium years ago yuk yuk lol. I was more distressed at not being able to eat marmite again lol.

Good luck! I'm on my 2nd increase of Ropinerole in 3yrs and it's getting worse the older I get, which was the same for my dad! I really do believe (and from what I've read) that many anti depressants cause RLS, but I know I would prefer to have twitchy arms n legs than face that black hole again 😐