Magic solution!

[RestlessRosie]

After decades of suffering with RLS, I've disovered that taking IRON and MAGNESIUM supplements (in combination with Ropinirole) makes a huge difference. Hopefully this tip might help someone else too 🙂.

[Hidden]

Iron therapy is actually a recommended treatment for RLS as it can "treat" one of the causative factors of RLS, i.e. brain iron deficiency, BID.

Drugs such as ropinirole just relieve symptoms.

Oral iron supplementation is only really effective if you have a ferritin level of less than 75ug/L. In that case it can help raise ferritin to 100ug/L at which point it can reduce RLS symptoms in 50% of RLS sufferers.

Great that appears that you may be one of those 50%.

Other people may benefit from raising their ferritin even further, at least 200ug/L or more. However to do that would require an IV iron infusion.

It's good that you posted this, doctors don't seem to address this aspect of RLS, yet it could be of great benefit.

[WideBody in reply to Hidden]

I come here just to say what Minerva says, then I read Manerva’s responses to everything. It’s not just the answers but hIs explanation are so thoughtful. I hope Minerva is retired, I don’t know how anyone could find the time and respond so quickly.

It’s almost my daily column to read, Manerva’s responses to everything.

@RestlessRosie. Iron IS my drug and 80% cure. For some reason only liquid ferrous sulfate is what works for me. I tried a lot of them. I take it on an empty stomach at night with some Vitamin C to help absorption.

The body has a self regulation mechanism to prevent too much iron absorption, the body produces hepcidin, hepcidin blocks iron absorption. Vitamin D has been showed to impede hepcidin production. I was also low in Vitamin D. I think adding it helped.

[Hidden in reply to WideBody]

Great that iron works for you so well. That's really encouraging.

Yes I am retired.

[Spencer1958 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, thank you Manerva for all your knowledge and time. My GP is reviewing my request for an IV iron infusion - will know more next week.

[Joolsg]

Great that you've found it helps you. To raise serum ferritin levels, it's best to take iron pills every other night instead of every day as it fools Hepcedin which is a chemical that blocks iron absorption in the brain ( where it's needed for RLS sufferers).

As Manerva has replied, raising ferritin helps around 50% of RLS sufferers and I'm delighted that you're one of them.

[Rlssucks1]

I know take an iron supplement and cut out salt among other foods. I also found out that laying on my stomach helps to reduce the symptoms. Weird, I know.

[SomersetLily in reply to Rlssucks1]

Not weird....helps me too