Espresso coffee

[Memmy]

Coffee really helps my rls. A strong espresso when I feel my legs starting. I hope it lasts. I had stopped drinking it thinking it was a trigger but no.

[Hidden]

Coffee seems to be something that makes RLS worse for some and better for others.

You might assume it's the caffeine in the coffee that's the active agent, but I'm not so sure. People say "coffee" more than they say "caffeine", but tea has caffeine in it too. Not many people say "tea".

It could actually be the coffee, NOT the caffeine.

It's a mystery!

[Lapsedrunner in reply to Hidden]

I have caffeine tablets by my bed now instead of a flask of coffee...for me it’s the caffeine!

[Amelanchier in reply to Hidden]

I also find caffeine a help rather than a hindrance, but in the form of tea, as coffee gives me tummy cramps. I often make myself a strongish cup at night when rls kicks in and gain relief . The whole remedy scenario is a mystery tho, I agree. What works like a dream one night can be totally useless the next!

[involuntarydancer]

As you know, I too find a small strong coffee a useful tool when the beast strikes. If you read the study on dipyridamole and RLS by Drs Garcia-Borreguero and Ferre, it seems that it is because caffeine operates on the adenosine receptors which are implicated in RLS. I think this is the scientific basis for the good effect.

[Hidden in reply to involuntarydancer]

Great, then it's the caffeine in the coffee, not the coffee. I still prefer coffee to other sources of caffeine.

Say this fast

All I want is a proper cup of coffee made in a proper copper coffee pot.

Iron coffee pots and tin coffee pots, they're no good for me.

If I can't have a proper cup of coffee made in a proper copper coffee pot,

I'll have a cup of tea!

[Memmy in reply to Hidden]

I dont think tea has enough

caffeine but I may be wrong

[Hidden in reply to Memmy]

There is more caffeine in tea leaves than in coffee beans, nut more caffeine in brewed coffee than in brewed tea.

It gets lost in the brewing!

driftaway.coffee/is-there-m...

[Eryl]

I can understand that, as coffee contains polyphenols and other anti-inflammatory compounds, and I believe that rls is most often caused by chronic inflammation. The problem is that drinking too much coffee can lead to high blood pressure, headaches and palpitations. The real answer is to find the cause of the inflammation which is usually some foods, like sugar, dairy products, gluten, and in some cases nightshades or artificial preservatives. Also vegetable oils (apart from olive oil can be a cause of inflammation) as can low level poisoning with heavy metals or herbicides and pesticides.

[Hidden in reply to Eryl]

It's more likely that it's the caffeine content of coffee that's the real answer, since caffeine is known to have a direct effect on the nervous system e.g. on the adenosine receptors.

I admit it's tempting to come up with theories that manipulate facts and combine them often in very complex and convoluted ways, simply to demonstrate that your world view, however bizarre or outlandish, is the right view. Such is the stuff that conspiracy theories are made of.

It's not too hard to see how, as human beings, we are prone to erecting internally coherent and self supporting belief systems that sometimes unfortunately don't correspond with a shared reality that most people agree on.

Not to say that the shared reality is entirely true. Truth isn't a democratic decision. However, it does help social cohesion to agree about some things.

Scientists do say, especially theoretical physicists that the best theories are both simple and elegant.

Which elegantly brings me round to saying that my theory is that it's the caffeine in coffee that affects RLS, not polyphemols, anti-inflammatory agents or even its sugar content, because it's a simple theory.

In contrast

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The...

[Eryl in reply to Hidden]

Then you'd better ague it out with people like Livestrong.com and the authors of The Iowa Women's Health Study.

[Katti703]

Are you drinking with caffeine or without? I love Espresso and want to try this ☺️

[Memmy in reply to Katti703]

With caffeine

[Katti703 in reply to Memmy]

Thanks, but that would keep me up all night. 😔

[involuntarydancer in reply to Katti703]

This recommendation is mainly for those whose rls will keep them awake all night anyway. Once my rls starts it doesn't settle until 5am at the earliest; sometimes 9 or 10am. I would rather be awake due to alerting from caffeine than with the awful urge to move.

[Memmy in reply to involuntarydancer]

I agree completely. Nothing nicer than being able to lie in bed with quiet legs

[Katti703 in reply to involuntarydancer]

I get some sleep by taking 50mg of Trazadone at night.

[Alex2308]

For a year or so I used to drink 2-4 espressos along with L-theanine to smooth the effect but still it irritated my stomach. For the last 2 months though I've only been taken 200 mg caffeine pill first thing in the morning and that's all. No RLS whatsoever while I'm loaded with caffeine, feeling great and alert, but I can't sleep in such a state. In the evening all caffeine is already out of the system and usually, being tired enough, I sleep alright.

[Memmy in reply to Alex2308]

So it seems caffeine really helps

[LotteM in reply to Alex2308]

Alex, that is an interesting experience. Is your RLS mild or severe?

[Alex2308 in reply to LotteM]

pretty mild

[Sara_2611]

I gave up coffee years ago for a very different reason

When I was working I sat on a bank of 4desks & my then colleagues drank coffee every so often & drank lots of it - so did I & next thing I knew my heart was beating 200bpm & thankfully there was a couch on the coffee room so I had to lie down on it until my heart returned to normal. So I've never drunk it since

[Memmy in reply to Sara_2611]

I drink an espresso after lunch and one after evening meal which isnt a lot

[Sara_2611 in reply to Memmy]

That's good I'm not going to start it up again

[Hidden in reply to Sara_2611]

Many substances have good and bad points, it's just a matter of balance, is the good it provides is better than the bad. Caffeine does have a bad effect if taken in excess, but in small amounts, it seems it can help RLS.

Conversely, although Curarine , for example, would be very effective in stopping RLS -

- it would also kill you!

[Sara_2611 in reply to Hidden]

What is curarine? I think I ll stick with my Balneum Cream I had an attack of it Thursday night which woke me up so I've put it on & "they've relaxed again

[Hidden in reply to Sara_2611]

Curarine is a drug which is used for some surgical procedures. It's benefit is that it relaxes muscles completely, which sounds brilliant.

However, it relaxes all muscles including breathing muscles.

Not a good idea unless you have a ventilator available.

[Sara_2611 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Manerva

Thanks for the reply- Oh no -I dont have a ventilator -so they'd definitely not be suitable not to mention a possible clash with the medication Im on for blood pressure & epilepsy -I just wondered what it was .I've learned something there -so much obliged

Cheers

Sara x

[involuntarydancer in reply to Hidden]

Death from any cause will bring about a resolution of RLS. This seems to be borne out by the recent study that links RLS to an increased suicide risk.

[Memmy]

Never heard of curarine

[funnyfennel]

Interesting, as I too found coffee helpful. When awake early ,5 or 6 am, having coffee and going back to bed seems to feel so relaxed and I can sometimes get a nap...!! However, the strong coffees they serve in town seem to give me migraines if more than one a day.....ho hum....good luck everyone x

[AlexB88]

Foods and beverages that contain caffeine may stimulate your nerves and aggravate RLS. I know this because I've been struggling with Restless Legs Syndrome for many years. I still can totally give up on caffeine but I try to drink more decaffeinated coffee. After reading the advantages and disadvantages of this website pickmybrewer.com/gaggia-acc... I got a keurig 2.0 and now it's much more easier for me to do that. I also try to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens combined with nuts and seeds. In my case, RLS improved with diet and lifestyle changes even though the improvements were seen very slowly.