I have joined this forum because I have found a way of stopping RLS almost immediately and want to tell all sufferers about it.
I take a nicotine replacement tablet that people use when stopping smoking (not even a whole one). The relief is instant for me. I don't know anyone else with RLS so dont know if it works for everyone. If you are thinking of trying it make sure you check with your doctor first if its ok for you to take it. It is available at any chemist.Let me know if you think its effective too.
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Although it does apparently work for you, there is no explanation for why it should.
Since it's widely accepted that RLS is an overexcitability of motor nerves anything that stimulates nerves in general would logically seem to make RLS worse.
Since nicotine is a stimulant, if anything then, it should make RLS worse and some sources list nicotine as a RLS trigger.
Also, it has to be considered that nicotine is highly addictive and withdrawal effects can occur within hours and can be quite severe.
It certainly isn't a "cure". A cure is usually thought to be something you can do for a short while which produces a more or less permanent return to a pre-existing state. E.g. if you get an infection and take an antibiotic, it may "cure" the infection. If you then stop taking the antibiotic, the symptoms of the infection should not reappear.
Nicotine if it does relieve symptoms at all will only do that, stop using it and the RLS will recur i.e. it's not a cure.
Sorry if this disillusions you. I wouldn't want to prevent anybody from trying this if they so wish, all I'm suggesting is that it's unlikely to relieve symptoms and it isn't a cure.
in reply to
Thanks for your comments. Just to clarify I get RLS very badly but only occasionally when I'm tired so as you say the nicotine tab is not a permanent cure. But if I do get it ,it provides instant relief. No chance of addiction for me personally as I take the tabs very rarely. I am hoping it will work for others.
Actually, I did try nicotine chewing gum at work one day. My legs were SO bad from augmentation and I couldn't work. I was standing up anyway and had to virtually jog on the spot to get any relief... which meant I couldn't do anything useful anyway. I went to a colleague whom I knew had some chewing gum, and chewed one. It nearly blew my head off! I didn't know it came in different strengths! Anyway, within 10 minutes I was able to sit down (in fact was about to fall down) and didn't have anymore issues for a few hours. Sadly, although I only used it on few occasions, (and realised I didn't need anything strong,) I started to feel extreme anxiety and in the end, the only thing I could put it down to was the nicotine. I stopped using it at all, and the anxiety went right away.
I wondered at the time, if it hits receptors similar to caffeine. I've also tried the cup of coffee idea that I've read on here and that's worked too for a while. Anyway, I just thought I'd add my experience in case it's useful for anyone.
Thats really interesting. I know what you mean about the strength of the nicotine. For me the nicotine tablet works if I just take a very small amount..not a full tablet or just a tiny bite of the gum. I think its important not to have more than you need and keep it to a minimum.
I has certainly being reported, via a doctor's column in the press, that the use of nicotine patches relieved, temporarily, the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. so it is quite possible that using these could affect RLS, as well.
That has not happened to me as overall the RLS incidences are getting more rare and I ony use a tiny part of a tab each time
Reading all the comments, I am impressed at how much each member is smart
and knowledgeable. And it does make sense what each one is saying, so let me
join you by saying to Cureinsight how much I share the fact that, when we have restless legs when we want badly to sleep, we will try anything in the moment and will regret it after probably, but I hope it will work for you in a long run, without any regret Cureinsight. In fact when I received from HealthUnlocked
the e-mail with your comment for Restless Legs, I run to the website for find out about this mysterious cure I did not hear about. Well...we do what we have to do
till we know better.
in reply to
Thanks for this.I hope you get some relief for your RLS.
Does ICY HOT help the creepy crawlies??? I have some leg jerk g and now it is less as I take the little pills that Restless legs come with the Restless kegs, not a cure all, but has helped me somewhat, anything is a help.
All I know is IcyHot has helped me with my Restless Legs Syndrome. If you live in the US you know there's also something called Aspercreme which is very similar to IcyHot. Same manufacturer and they look alike.
Both Aspercreme and IcyHot are good for pain because they have lidocaine in them, but Aspercreme is not good for RLS. Apparently the reason being IcyHot has MENTHOL in it and Aspercreme does not.
I do too hope it help you. Mind you, it's not the miracle medication. Sometimes I have to put it on a couple of times... (Always massaging a little hard). Still, it's the best thing I've tried so far. Again, good luck. 🤩
Thanks for posting about the use of a nicotine replacement tablet to relieve the symptoms of RLS. I had never come across this before. I thought I'd give this a go as the only thing that works for me is getting up, walking around and having a strong cup of tea....despite the fact that caffeine is meant to aggravate symptoms. I spoke to the local pharmacist about what type of nicotine replacement to try and she recommended an oral spray as this delivers the lowest possible dose.
I have to say that after trying it for three nights I can definitely report that there is almost immediate relief. with a max of 1 spray use per night. This relief is only temporary but it is enough to allow me to get back to sleep without the creeping sensation, jerking and twitching which characterises my RLS. I am aware of the dangers of nicotine addiction (I have never smoked) but I am determined not to take some of the medication which is available on our NHS and which, from what I have read on this forum, appears to have horrid side effects.
I am hoping that if I am able to break the sleeplessness cycle caused by RLS, I will be able to stop using the spray in the relatively near future. So....my thanks for sharing your experiences. I am, at this early stage of usage at least, very grateful.
It is interesting that the spray has had a good effect. For me taking it in tablet form means I can control how much I take...usually a little bite. I hardly ever need it now especially as I go to bed at a very regular time. if I stay up longer than usual that's when the RLS starts and then I take a little of the nicotine replacement tab. x
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