I'm taking Losartan Potasium, Lerconidipine and Atenolol for very high blood pressure, and cannot have the surgery I need until it's normal. I've been taking Dihydrocodeine for severe, full body RLS for nearly 20 years, but recently, the bed-time dose I take around 12.30am is only lasting for about two hours instead of the usual four, and they're generally not working so well, and so I'm wandering around downstairs again, waiting until I can take it. I'm often up anyway in the early hours while the dose kicks in, because I can't stay in bed once the RLS has dragged me from sleep, but not after only two hours.
Please can anyone tell me if these BP drugs are causing this? Though my life with RLS is not great, Dihydrocodeine at least allows me the semblance of normality, but with my BP - at its worse it was 209 and routinely around189 - I obviously have to take meds.
Please can anyone advise?
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lorrinet
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Sorry I have no answers for you but i do know that my RLS makes my blood pressure increase a lot. I was not on any medication except durogesic at the time i was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I take Amlodepine which I find is not helping at all. My weight is the only reason its so high. I'd be asking your doctor cause what may be the cause in one person is not the same for another. You could also look up a drug interaction checker and type the medications in you mentioned and see if they come up with anything.
Yes some antihypertensives can exacerbate RLS, and this may be what's happening with you.
As you say, you can't do without them, your BP sounds dangerously high, stopping them is not an option.
In which case dihydrocodeine is not sufficient to control.symptoms. It is an unusual choice of treatment for RLS in any event. If you've been taking it for years, whoever prescribed it wasn't up to date.
Opiates, like dihydrocodeine aren't now recommended first line treatments fir RLS. These are now either Dopamine Agonists (DAs) or Alpha 2 Delta ligands. (A2Ds)
DAs are the most consistently.effective.medications for RLS, but can cause problems in the long term. DAs produce dependency and if withdrawal.is necessary, it can be quite difficult.
A2Ds are effective for RLS but not as immediately as DAs, they take time to work. They interact with very few other medicines.
If sleep is a problem, the short term use of a benzodiazepine is recommended. The usual one is Clonazepam. A "Z" drug is an alternative to this as they are shorter acting, e.g. Zopiclone.
"Weak" opiates are mentioned as in relation to.RLS, but actually. might not be potent enough. It's worth reviewing the Dihydrocodeine. I wouldn't stop taking an opiate, certainly not suddenly. You would have withdrawals, worsening of your RLS.
You would, of course have to discuss these with your doctor. You need to check that there aren't any contraindications or interactions.
Here is a link to the national guidelines for the management of RLS.
I am very reluctant to stop Dihydrocodeine as they have served me so very well for almost 20 years. They gave me my life back after decades of utter hell, and from what I've read on here about augmentation etc., I dont want to go onto DAs. I've never had such problems with the opiates - none at all in fact, except for some constipation if I don't attend properly to my diet. I'd rather stop the BP meds and hang the consequences, quite frankly.
As well as RLS, I have chronic insomnia - a double whammy! My GP allows me 10 Zopiclone per month but they have no effect on the RLS.
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