Finally, relief!

[Barbee44]

For 17 years my primary care doctor had me on Alprazolam or Xanax. It started when I was having anxiety from work-related things. I noticed it stopped my RLS so the doctor reduced my dose to the lowest dose, and I'd cut it in half, besides. My doctor retired and my new doctor cut me off it. She said it was not good for people over 65. So for the last 2 yrs I've suffered with RLS not just at night but 24/7.

Due to needing a new mouthpiece for my sleep apnea I went to a sleep stud doctor. She put me on Ropinirole. My throat swelled. I'd been on Mirapex, Gabapentin, and several others before and all gave me reactions. Finally, she gave me Xanax on Thursday. Not sure if it's permanent or temporary, but I feel like new person. I have energy, I sleep 8 to 9 hours without waking and I feel great. No RLS day or night.

Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).

I'm on the lowest dose and I just take one half.

[involuntarydancer]

I am so glad you have managed to get back to the drug that worked for you. Wouldn't you just love for some of those doctors to 'walk a mile (all night)' in our shoes when they so casually inflict the level of suffering they do on us? It makes my blood boil to read about how you have been treated. It is bad enough to have to suffer from RLS but to have to do so needlessly because some doctor takes against the drug regime that allows a half way decent life ... I had better stop now - my blood pressure is rising!

[Barbee44 in reply to involuntarydancer]

From what I hear it's the state trying to keep people from being addicted. But the dose I take is so small and I did take it for years and wasn't addicted. When the new doc cut me off....I was OK with it, but the RLS didn't stop.

[TheDoDahMan in reply to Barbee44]

I agree with involuntarydancer. The concept that we oldsters nearing the end of our lifespan are better off suffering, as long as we're not "addicted", bears intense scrutiny. Especially when years of effective use of the substance in question shows that risk of abuse or overdose is pretty much nonexistent.

When police and politicians have more control over our lives than the doctor-patient tandem, then unnecessary pain will rule the day.

[Barbee44 in reply to TheDoDahMan]

I agree and what about the other drugs people here are taking? It sounds like they are pretty strong. I'd much rather take Xanax.