SRRIs :(

[EveW]

If I ever doubted the literature about how SSRIs exacerbate RLS (not that I did), I am having a personal experience of that. I had managed to drop my dose about a year ago, to help with the RLS, but have suffered a very difficult life event so the doc increased the SSRI dose - after about 4 days my poor legs started getting much worse, also sleep particularly bad. I have therefore decided to drop the dose back as I reckon that having a worsened RLS makes my emotional state worse, and on balance, lower SSRI but less RLS may be better; will have to see. Life feels like such a trudge at times!

[Hidden]

Alot of people HAVE to take anti-depressants, have you tried one thats more RLS friendly. ?

[EveW in reply to Hidden]

No, looked into them last year but doc wasn't keen on changing me to another. Isnt Mirtazapine one?

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to EveW]

Hi Eve

Wellbutrin (not available in the UK) and Trazodone do not generally worsen RLS. Mirtazapine (Remeron), that you mention, may worsen RLS for a small minority but not everyone.

[EveW in reply to Kaarina]

thanks for the reply - yes, wellbutrin I think is only available here for smoking cessation

[Hidden in reply to Kaarina]

I was taking Trazodone, RLS got much worse. Stopped taking it and only slight RLS problems now. However getting off the Trazodone was a nightmare!

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Sandilee, I am sorry that the Trazodone made your RLS much worse. As we always say on here what helps one person will not automatically help another. I am one of the few that can tolerate Amitriptyline in a low dosage, when I have used this drug, whereas for most sufferers it can make their symptoms unbearable.

[Hidden in reply to EveW]

If it were me I would ask the doctor why he/she doesn't want to try another med? Is the doctor the one suffering rls pain at night and losing sleep? Don't be afraid to ask your doc the hard questions.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Elisse is right. The important fact about antidepressants is that different ones are geared to different brain nuerotransmitters. The reason for so much trial and error required when finding the right one is that it's not easy to detect which neurotransmitter is the one causing the problem. And new neuro transmitters are discovered not infrequently which complicates the search for the best med for each individual. I believe there is a place for antidepressants but it is important for each of us to have the best one found and prescribed. Take care. burmag (Burma)

[Hidden]

Hi, EveW, An interesting point; recently I have seen new information appear on the web about low dopamine as opposed to low serotonin causing depression. I was fascinated, and it caused me to wonder if all the years I spent taking Prozac without feeling much better was necessary. Try googling on the subject and see what you find. Interesting theory; I'm still searching for more info. Just wanted to pass this on. Worth a look, I say. Take care. burmag (Burma)

[EveW in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your replies Burmag - interesting about the dopamine and depression because that could be why a large proportion of people with RLS also suffer from depression. I will do some research as well. Thankyou

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

RLS doesnt cause depression, but the sleep deprivation can.

[EveW in reply to Hidden]

most definately

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Elisse, I read your post re rls not causing depression. You are right. I may have not made my reply clear enough. If not, I apologize. However, I did not say rls causes depression. I know it does not. What I said was that I had read some interesting info online that low dopamine can possibly cause depression, NOT rls. This was new information for me and I thought it was interesting to share. I wish I had saved the site; next time I will. It might be worthwhile for anyone interested to google ' can low dopamine cause depression?' I will try to relocate the site and post my resources. Again, of course rls does not cause depression but any illness that causes the pain and suffering that rls does can, of course, contribute to changes in the brain's chemistry and Take care, burmag contribute to depression. Also, chronic pain has been proven to cause suicidal thinking (and in some cases action) when patients no longer feel able to tolerate it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Elisse, I just googled the question"Can Low Dopamine cause depression?" There are many websites listed concerning this subject. I am listing 4 that are in the top 5 of my search. I believe they support my statement: 1( Balancing Brain Chemistry from balancingbrainchemistry.co.uk 2) Depression: Low Dopamine, Not Low Serotonin from drwardbond.com 3) Dopamine May Play New Rple in Depression for webmd.com 4)Dopamine, Depression and Mental Health from bebrainfit.com Hope this helps. I'm always willing to be corrected when I am mistaken but I do want to be quoted correctly. Take care, burmag

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi burmag, actually it was what EveW said is why i replied that RLS doesnt cause depression but sleep deprivation does. Also we have enough dopamine its just it doesnt reach to where we need it. So, what you have found i am not saying isnt true for many illnesses as it says low dopamine.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Elisse, I thought you were sending ME the reply re rls not causing depression and on re-reading realized you were answering EveW post. Very sorry for the mistake. Forgive the misunderstanding. (not an excuse but still learning how to navigate with my computer. )Sometimes posts seem out of order and I am not sure which news feeds belong to whose posts. Trying very hard not to pass on inaccurate info. Take care, burmag

[Hidden]

Hi EveW, You're very welcome. I may have typed the initials wrong. I meant SSRI's. Very bad typist!LOL burmag

[EveW]

The SSRIs have always really helped my depression, and didn't used to be a problem with my RLS. But as you all suggest, maybe now is a good time to look at other options - always a bit worrying to contemplate something like this, as if new meds don't work, uncontrolled depression is also awful ! However, needs must ...

[Hidden]

Prozac and Zoloft sent my RLS insane.

But I didn't have any problem with Dothep.

[Hoffie]

Zoloft is supposed to not make your RLS worse

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Hoffie]

Hi Hoffie,

Zoloft (Sertraline) is listed as one of the SSRIs to avoid on the RLS-UK website.

[marsha2306]

What about Cymbalta? I was just put on it for nerve pain related to a different issue and it has not affected my RLS.

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to marsha2306]

Hi Grammie,

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is on the Medications to Avoid list on RLS-UK. You were lucky that your RLS was not affected. We are all different, as is often mentioned on the forum, as to what helps one person will not help another person at all.