RLS, Prazosin and other interesting things

[Parminter]

Good morning People

This is for Jan, who alerted me to this drug, but it is also of interest to all.

Prazosin, called Pratsiol where I am, is a blood-pressure medication. Not often used.

By some happy accident, it was found, by doctors at a Veterans Hospital in the USA, that Prazosin helped Iraq vets with PTSD to get some sleep. On average, an extra hour and a half.

PTSD (at any age) is associated with a thinning of the cortex, as is Restless Legs Syndrome. Also, it has been suggested that the genes associated with RLS might be switched on by traumatic events, including during pregnancy and at birth.

A traumatic pregnancy or birth can also switch on the genes for ADHD, a co-morbid condition for RLS, and is also associated with cortical thinning. (ADHD seems to be much higher in Caesarean section babies, and preemie babies).

I had a traumatic, premature Caesarean birth. I'm also as mad as a hatter, as Lotte knows.

I have high blood pressure (as have many with RLS, unsurprisingly), but have had very unpleasant side-effects from both Diovan and a calcium channel blocker, both of which I stopped.

So, thanks to Jan, and nothing daunted, I took this information to my GP, who promptly prescribed Pratsiol, after discovering I was 'non-compliant' with calcium channel blockers. (Calcium channel blockers are in fact contra-indicted for RLS).

Apart from a Huge Wobbly associated with Epictetus and Epicurus, and a really nice person in Boston, hello Optimist, I have slept very much better since starting Pratsiol, and on at least three nights out of nine, so far, I have slept for eight hours. One night for nine hours.

Halleluja, pass the Pratsiol.

I take a low dose, 2mg, in divided doses in the evening. The regular dose for blood pressure can go much higher than that and is used throughout the day.

There was no indication, in the matter of the traumatised soldiers, that they had high blood pressure, so I would imagine a low dose would be appropriate to try.

I waited until now to see if the initial effect was a placebo effect, but after nine days I am becoming confident that it is not. It works.

Thank you, Jan. Mwah!

[rls_optimist]

I'm glad to hear that Pratsiol is working for you! Now, perhaps, you may need to repair to the fainting couch less often, trailing your diaphanous silk gown, dram glass in hand. (But will you miss the bittersweet drama of that?)

[Parminter in reply to rls_optimist]

Well, I am re-reading Hans Rosling's 'Factfulness'.

After such a book, most of one's self-indulgent inclination towards catastrophizing and drama is blown to smithereens.

Do read it. It girds the loins quite splendidly.

And it proves I am dead wrong about almost everything, which is so very bracing!

And then there is Epictetus.

But still, nevertheless and notwithstanding, I shall sashay about in my trailing gown, made from an antique Benares sari, looking pale and interesting for anyone who cares to watch.

[rls_optimist in reply to Parminter]

Thank you for that tip. I had heard only some bits about Rosling’s optimistic, evidence-based conclusions about the state of the world, but haven’t heard of this book until just now. I will look into it. Having had a deep Buddhist meditation and mindfulness practice for a few decades, I’m already primed to accept, like you have, that almost everything I think I know is (at least partly) wrong.

In the meantime, I shall have to live with the fact that there’s a pale, interesting-looking woman sashaying about in a most intriguing gown, and I will gaze upon her only in my dreams. If I can just get to sleep...

[Parminter in reply to rls_optimist]

Good heavens.

You meditate, and you have a haematologist, and you read Epictetus.

Good heavens.

[rls_optimist in reply to Parminter]

Just a few of my many fine qualities.

[jimmcar]

I just received my bottle of Prazosin from a very cooperative doctor. I will let you all know how it works out.

I hope so because I think I'm at the end of the road with my Sinemet (Levadopa/Carbidopa.)

[Parminter in reply to jimmcar]

Sadly, it is still off the market where I am.

I wish you well.