Anxiety.

[Barn-Owl]

Hi I have not posted here before but have had RLS for at least15 years. I have for very many years suffered with anxiety and depression. Medication has helped. I take Gabapentin and Clonazepam for RLS now for 3 years.It helps me sleep but I find my anxiety over trivial things going through the roof, Could it be the meds for RLS. Has any one else suffered with this.

[Hidden]

Hi Barn-owl, Welcome to the group. I only joined in August and am glad I did. Everytime I read posts I learn something new. Re anxiety, I'm 73 and have been anxious all my life. But just diagnosed with rls a couple of months ago I remember telling my aunt when I was about 7 that I felt 'nervous'. Her response was"You're too young to have nerves'. Anyway, I take Xanax when my anxiety is over the top. Doesn't take much. I'm not sure if my anxiety has contributed to my rls-probably so- but I do know when my legs are hurting my anxiety level goes thru the roof. Often relieving my anxiety with a xanax (even 1/2pill) helps me cope with the rls much better. Hope this helps. Take care. burmag (Burma)

[Barn-Owl in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply

[Eryl]

Have you had your Vit D levels checked? Vit D deficiency can lead to anxiety and depression. I found it by accident. I was taking calcium supplements and found my mood improving. It was then that I noticed that the supplements also contained Vit D and on researching that found that it can affect mood. psychologydictionary.org/ar...

[Barn-Owl in reply to Eryl]

I have had vit d levels and are normal. I take extra as well, but thank you for your inputt

[Hidden in reply to Eryl]

Hi Eryl, Yes I take Vit D and several other supplements.. I've also had therapy off and on throughout my adult life and it's been helpful in many ways. But anxiety still has it's hold. I was on Prozac (fluoxetine) for years. Finally got off-really never helped. And I also believe from my research that it may have contributed to my rls. I guess by now you all know I'm a retired nurse. And after 40 years in the healthcare field, I have very little faith in most meds-especially some of the newer ones. So prefer to take food, supplements and other natural routes. My doctor prescribed pramipexole about 2 months ago when I was diagnosed. After about a week I had an allergic reaction and went to the E.R. At the time I knew nothing about augmentation and after reading posts on the subject I feel the reaction was a blessing in disguise. So now not anxious to try other medications. I know they can help many others but at my age I just don't want to go thru 'trial and error' with various meds. Down the road I may have to but I'm leary. I just joined a second community called Couch to Buddha-found some very interesting posts and tips re meditation. Take care, Burma (burmag)

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Burmag, you were taking Prozac? How did it affect your RLS? It sent mine into total overdrive.

BUT .... before I realized that, my thoughts were 'this stuff should be in the water'!

Must confess tho, that at the time, I had yet to be diagnosed with RLS, and therefore, was still under the impression that I was the only person in the world that suffered from this torturous affliction.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Phogan, I wrote an earlier post about my experiences with Prozac.. Feel free to look it up, but I will sum it up in one sentence. "I'M SORRY I EVER TOOK PROZAC." As I recall It came out in the 80's (?) and along with other "SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) was touted as a real breakthrough for depression. I was prescribed it almost immediately and was on it for about 25 years. I thought it helped some ( it mainly helped me be less compulsive). My brother was on it, as were many of my friends and co-workers. In the last 7-8 years I decided it wasn't helping my depression and stopped it. When I began to have rls pain several months ago and began doing research for causes and solutions I found several articles about how the neurotransmitter serotonin ( and Prozac in particular) may worsen rls. The info was cautious -I believe because it has been such a moneymaker psychiatric med- (my opinion). I am angry that I took it all those years as I think it has something to do with my current rls. For me this is a reason that I don't trust so many new meds- they haven't been used long enough to know what side sffects are down the road 20-30 years from now. This is all my own experience and opinion but my 'gut' feeling tells me I am on to something. I get emotional thinking of all those years on a drug that probably wasn't that helpful to me and may have caused current health-care issues I have to deal with now. Well, enough of this diatribe. Thanks for listening. PS I'm sure many have been helped by this drug, BUT NOT ME! Take care, Burma (burmag)

[Hidden]

How are your magnesium levels? I suffer from depression as well. My husband has been wonderful in helping me!! He recently came across a study that talks about magnesium helping with depression.

[Barn-Owl in reply to Hidden]

Hi my magnesium levels are ok but I take a tablet as well. I still think my meds for RLS are the main problem now

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jess, You're on my page. I do take magnesium (from my cardiologist and also use homemade magnesium oil which helps a lot. And I recently had a ferritin level. It came back 60 which my primary care dr said was normal. My research says rls patients do better with higher normal levels so am working on that now. I don't always feel depressed and I've been talking about my anxiety which is based around my health problems. I believe much of it comes from getting older and feeling like I'm losing my independence. Trying to get paperwork in order so I can continue to be in charge of my medical decisions as long as possible. Not trying to be negative but I want to avoid at all costs having to be shelved in a nursing home at some point. I think in our country (US) most if them are abominable places to be. My opinion but there it is. I'm pretty healthy now and rolling along with med probs controlled. But one has to start planning to stay independent about these health decisions. Also, it seems as I get older,if I forget one thing, someone younger thinks I'm losing my faculties, especially in senior living where staff is always watching us for signs of that. It's such an artificial environment. Sorry to post information like this but it's on my mind. Thanks for listening. Take care, Burma

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jess3648. My magnesium levels are very good-mainly because of my cardiologist and trying to raise magnesium for cardiac reasons. What I have since learned is that being sure I get enough mag has helped me in other ways. It is such an important substance and one that can be easily ignored when blood levels turn up normal. I have frequently gotten IV magnesium in the hospital for better cardiac function. Too bad it is not given more often for other problems (like rls?) We used to be able to get plenty of magnesium from plant foods but soil is not what it used to be. Take care burmag (Burma)