Doxycycline

[Asherleymoco]

Has anyone started to suffer with RLS but only after taking doxycycline. It only seems to have started in one leg since taking these. I’ve seen that tremors can be caused by it but I’m not too sure

[Hidden]

Hello, if as you seem to be saying, you've never had RLS before and hence may not have a dignosis, then it's first a good idea to try and confirm that your symptoms are due to RLS and not something else.

Here's a link to the RLS diagnostic criteria. Compare your symptoms to them. If they match all five then you probably have RLS. If any one doesn't match then you probably don't have RLS.

irlssg.org/diagnostic-criteria

There are many medicines that can exacerbate RLS, i.e. make it worse in somebody who already has it. These are mainly antidepressants and sedating antihistamines. There are very few medicines that actually cause it.

Generally speaking antibiotics do not exacerbate or cause RLS. It's dubious therefore that the doxycycline has caused you RLS.

It is known that inflammation is a major mediating factor in RLS. Particularly gastrointestinal inflammation. Inflammation does interfere with iron metabolism which is a causative factor in RLS.

There are a few conditions associated with gastrointestinal inflammation and RLS. This includes such things as non-coeliac's gluten sensitivity, lactose sensitivity, crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, and SIBO.

It would be a good idea to see your doctor and ask for blood tests for serum iron, transferrin, ferritin and haemoglobin.

If you have a low haemoglobin than you have iron deficiency anaemia which can cause RLS. Even if your haemoglobin is normal then you may still. have an iron deficiency. If the ferritin is below 75ug/L then people with RLS can benefit from starting on an oral iron supplement.

Here's a link to some information about iron therapy for RLS.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

I hope this helps a bit.

[bradscottmatt]

Same thing happens to me. I lowered my dose to 12.5 mg. RLS is terrible! Only happens when I take this sleep aid.

[Heather1467]

Hi ! Yes I’ve just taken two day’s worth of doxycycline and have been having the same effects - RLS ! It’s completely weird. Keen to hear anyone else’s comments. BTW I seem to be a bit sensitive to certain medications. Thanks.

[RBP1023 in reply to Heather1467]

Hi Heather 1467,I have taken four days worth of the doxycycline and started having hypnic jerks which have now turned into RLS. I am so tired as I am not getting much sleep from this. Can you please let me know if your symptoms went away once you stopped taking this medication? Thanks in advance.