Same feeling as augmentation rare but real side effect .
Just incase someone is in the same situation
I started metformin in February which is an diabetic drug . A short time later I had Shingles which I thought had really sent my RSL to an unbelievable overdrive
I pm every day the pain would start in my thighs and be unbearable again as it worked it’s way down my legs they were mental .
As it progressed over the month pins and needles started in my shoulder blades then it was like fingers tapping next stage was the urge to move my shoulders .
No sleep of course and most certainly thought I would not survive as the months and weeks went on .
The urge to move was from 1 pm until I got up the next morning after very little drug induced sleep
Botox in legs helped as did oxycodone but it was still horrific .
I was really sick and just did not take my medication for a couple of weeks. The symptoms started to go .what a difference .
So my message is it may possible as in my case another drug that caused me to have the same symptoms as augmentation
It was called acidosis . I founded it in an diabetic website it builds up in the muscles over a period of an YEAR and then watch out . This is supposedly are rare side effect .
So just incase this helps one person .
Ps Botox in legs really helped pain during this time
I was about to have Botox in my shoulders . So glad I stopped the metformin and it’s all resolved and I know what it was .
Back to normal levels for rsl for me now thank god
Good luck everyone
Written by
Shumbah
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks for sharing. And thank goodness your nightmare is over.xx
What you experienced sounds horrific and I'm glad you found the cause of it.
Metformin, I read, can cause muscle pain and in some people vitamin B12 deficiency which can be a factor in RLS.
I am concerned however that apparently you seem to simply stopped taking it. If you were taking it to control type 2 diabetes this is possibly a dangerous thing to do.
If you aren't producing sufficient insulin or your insulin isn't effective enough, your blood sugar will rise and you could also suffer ketoacidosis. Since your body will be less able to utilise glucose for energy you will start to feel the consequences of that. Ketoacidosis can kill.
A further problem, in some people with uncontrolled diabetes is lactic acidosis, a build up of lactic acid. That in itself can cause RLS symptoms and pain.
In the longer term you will be at increased risk of diabetic complications including diabetic neuropathy, pain, weakness and RLS symptoms.
If you have simply just stopped taking the Metformin, you're out of the frying pan, but you're in a slow burning fire!
It was given to me in part of a weight loss program
Before I took it I asked the doctor if it would aggravate my restless leg syndrome he said no .
I have friends taking for weight loss and no problem for them . Certainly did work for weight loss but what a price for me anyway I am fairly certain that was the cause for the escalation of my Rsl . I have only been improving for just over a week fingers crossed .
I just thought I would share as someone might be in the same situation and they could have change of medication.for there diabetes
It just needs to be made clear that if you're suffering type 2 diabetes for which you receive metformin, you can't just stop taking it, you need an alternative.
I was just concerned for you that you made no mention of this and had simply stopped taking metformin without taking an alternative.
I stopped the metformin too as it made me worse. I said I need something to help me lose weight too, so I was put on Victoza (it is also called Sazenda). Basically the drug is injected like an insulin pen and it also controls your blood sugar. So far I have been taking it on and off, there is a reason for that, for about a year. The reason I stop and start is because the side effects can be a bit rough, eggy breath, nausea, etc. When I started I was 13st 1lb and now I am 11st 7lbs. I could weigh less but as I said I stop and start it. Now I struggle to eat a full meal as my stomach has definitely shrunk as to the quantities I can eat. I also have not excercised at all as I am not well enough and have had surgery in the same period of time with 4 months bed rest as it went a bit wrong. This is a kind of new drug here in the UK. It was founded in the USA I believe for diabetics and the weight loss side effect was then transported into using it as a weight loss drug. So if you go to a private doctor you will get Saxenda which has a higher doseage allowance, compared to \Victoza which is given by the NHS and comes in a smaller dose allowance. Either which way they are exactly the same drug, these are just brand names. So my point is if you are diabetic and want to lose weight and are in the UK, you can have Victoza on prescription and it does not affect RLS. Or if you are not able to get on the NHS there are several weight loss clinics offering Saxenda for a cost. Although, when my daughter went to her gp to try and get it, as she is not a diabetic but, was very overweight, they gave her Saxenda, for 6 months only. She has gone from 14st to 11st 4 now. She has been exercising too and I am really proud of her progress.
Just wonder how long it took for the Metformin to get out your system and your RSL symptoms to improve.
I have been off for over 2weeks my shoulders improved however I am still getting pain start settling into my lower back and thighs around 1 m by 4 I am laid up with heat packs .
I am on oxy at night only just reduced from 20 mg to 15 last 2 nights .
Metformin leaves the body within 24 hours normally, so a couple of days and it is all gone. My relief was pretty instant after stopping it.
Maybe because you have reduced the oxy you are in more pain. I tend to only stop one tablet at a time as it is safer and also you would know what is wrong as you have only stopped one drug at a time.
There could be something else. I do not know about oxy, but, I am currently weaning off tramadol myself as after 7 years I am getting side effects of extreme hot flushes, sweating like I'm in the Sahara in a fur coat! and on top of that patches of itching on my left leg and in a sensitive area. I was on 2 tramadol 50mg 6 - 8 times a day, depending on how bad I was. I am now on 1 in the morning and 2 at night. My how flushes have totally gone and the itching almost, so I will be glad when I am off them. On the down side I am feeling every single muscle in my arms and legs hurting, my legs are going crazy night and day and I can barely walk some days. I am pushing through the pain with the help of "natural medicine", I don't really like it but, it does help with the pain so much. I will continue until I am fully off the tramadol and hopefully they will give me something to replace it.
So I definitely think that you lowering your oxy will definitely cause issues and take time to settle. My doctor said it depends on how long you have been taking them.
Please help me. I’m dealing with this right now and it’s hell. I was on metformin for weight loss and I stoped it because I was getting RLS and I never had it before. I stopped it 4 days ago but it’s still so severe and is now in my arms. When did it finally get better for you after stopping it? I see no light at the end of the tunnel right now and I’m afraid metformin caused permanent damage and I’ll have to deal with this forever
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
And now for the good news
Is augmentation not disease progression? According to this article it is not. 
Ropinirole, safe dose to avoid augmentation??
Transitioning off pramapezole
Gabapentin Hell!
