Low iron factor in my RLS

[Nonsleeper]

65-year-old RLS sufferer. Horrible symptoms last few years due to augmentation from Pramipexole. Chronic severe sleep deprivation. Sought help at UF movement disorders clinic. Diagnosed with severe low iron levels/anemic. Switched medicine to Neupro patch. Taking iron supplements. Iron levels are up from 0 to 42. Symptoms have all but gone away unless I forget to change the patch. Symptoms have all but gone away unless I forget to change the patch. Neupro is in same family as pramipexole and may cause augmentation symptoms eventually. Right now I’m enjoying symptom free and sleep for a change. Trying to get my health back. Ask your doctor to check your iron levels . Low iron could be key in your RLS suffering. Good luck.

[Madlegs1]

Indeed!😎

[involuntarydancer]

I found raising iron helped but do keep an eye out for augmentation on neupro and don’t be tempted to increase the dose if it becomes more ineffective. Better to reduce at that stage an try something else instead.

[DicCarlson]

So - I had severe RLS for a few months - no sleep except an hour or two with legs almost vertical. I resisted meds, and found iron supplementation eliminated the RLS (but not insomnia). I suspect a DA or Gabapentin would have accomplished the same thing. If you are on meds for RLS how would you ever know there is another avenue to gain relief? You can be iron deficient and even correct the deficit, but the meds will still be in play. And I know - no one wants the RLS back once it's gone - and you continue with the prescription for months, years. BTW - I have no idea why my Ferritin was so low and why it is not now, even without supplementation - now for many months.

[gingerman12]

HI, I'm sorry you have been having such a bad time. I haven't got much to say except that I now know that I cannot have red wine or all my symptoms come back straight away. Also, I have found that magnesium supplements help sleep. That said, I have the odd bad night for seemingly no reason. Good luck and best wishes.