RLS

[179346]

Suffer with RLS I am taking antipsychotic medication and medication for depression, RLS starts around midnight and getting no sleep can anyone help from UNITED KINGDOM

[agapepilgrim]

Try powdered magnesium, starting at 300mg, going to 800 mg, and increase other electrolytes: potassium, sodium, and calcium. Major cause of leg cramps- low on an electrolyte. And consuming sugar near the time of consuming your electrolytes will decrease absorption.

[179346 in reply to agapepilgrim]

Can you let me know what foods to eat

[agapepilgrim in reply to 179346]

This is what I try to eat daily: spinach and/or kale sautéed in olive oil with onions and garlic with a tad of maple syrup or honey; Greek vanilla yogurt (sweetened with my honey); banana, tomato, salted seeds (pumpkin,chia,etc) and walnuts, sweet potatoes or beans or rice with salt. I have trouble with my sodium level getting low (I get lightheaded) and if doctor sees on blood test he immediately stops my Celexa then I get suicidal. To prevent this when my BP gets below 100/60 I start putting 1/2 tsp salt in my 16 oz bottle water with 1/4 tsp powdered calcium and tad of stevia and sip on that , several bottles on day. It’s a daily fight with MS, RLS, chemicslbdepression, hypoglycemia, fibromyalgia, gastritis, etc, etc . I used to use coconut based everything until I became allergic to coconut. Great source of electrolytes. Watermelon is great. We buy lots if it and I freeze it and when tired of eating I use it in smoothies with greens and apples and bananas and pineapple and protein and even add salt. And celery. Great snack with peanut butter. Or cheese. 😊when I think back, I think the topamax (anti epileptic med ) helps the most. And the powdered Calm every night. Good luck

[Hidden]

There are many medications that can either make RLS worse or even cause it. Many antidepressants do this. Also antipsychotic drugs can cause RLS-like symptoms (akathisia), not exactly RLS itself.

If you identify the names of the medications you're taking, then it would be possible to confirm if you're taking something which has this effect.

I'd say it's most likely that your symptoms are due to either one or both of your medications. What are they?

It would be a good idea to let your doctor know.

[Hidden]

I have also had a couple of bouts of major depression and after a number of medication trials, I now take buproprion XL (Wellbutrin extended release).

I started off on Prozac and felt wonderful. It was like "this must be how everyone else feels). No highs or lows. Unfortunately, the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) can send your RLS into orbit. Prozac is one of these drugs. Other SSRI's include Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, and Celexa. They can really exacerbate RLS in the majority of us. I do know some RLS sufferers that can take these drugs without issue, though. They all have different side effects but for me they all exacerbated my RLS. Additionally Zoloft made sexual activity difficult and Paxil made me anorgasmic (I could not have an orgasm). I did not take these two drugs for very long!

Finally, we found an antidepressant that did not exacerbate my RLS - Wellbutrin XL. I do not feel as nice as I did on the SSRI's. It is sort of hard to explain. Whereas both treated the depression, the SSRI's treated the depression with a "warm, fuzzy" feeling while Wellbutrin treated it with a "cold, prickly" feeling, I am not depressed but I felt better on the SSRI's.

The difference is like when you are cold. The SSRI's were like a warm, comfy blanket someone tucked around you while the wellbutrin was like someone was warming me up with turning up the thermostat in the room a tad too high. Both kept me warm, but the SSRI's were more comfortable.

[Nikwat]

Many of the medications you are on for your mood can contribute to worsening of rls. I found out the hard way. Please check side effects particularly if u are taking an SSRI antidepressant. Will make RLS so much worse

[Nikwat in reply to Nikwat]

I am on a antidepressant called Valdoxan (agomelatin) and also lamptragine for mood. These do not exacerbate symptoms. I am treated for RLS with opiods however.

[179346 in reply to Nikwat]

Thankyou, I'm going to consider stop taking them. have not slept for days.

my gp suggests taking tablets for my rls

[Nikwat in reply to 179346]

Yes, please consider your options. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. My pyschaistist believes there has been a direct link between my RLS and subsequent mood disorder. I also have needed back surgery - so i deal with "the triangle" as we call it - which all feed into one another - sleep/pain/mood. When one goes bad the points on triangle start to fall apart. Yet all three things need different treatment options - which makes it very confusing at times. I wish you luck.

[smagee_6]

Are you sure it is RLS and not a side effect of your medication? It could be Akithesia....