Restless Legs Syndrome

15,706 members • 9,974 posts

I’m so depressed

All I want is some lemonade, some apple, grape, orange, or cranberry juice, or a slushee. Or some chocolate milk or some strawberry milk. Some ginger ale or some sprite. When I’m sick I usually eat some crackers with some ginger ale or some juice. This time around I can’t have anything.

I’ve been watching videos of people drinking juices and smoothies because I’m so desperate. I’m so sad. All I can think about is drinks and what will calm my legs and arms down enough that I can test the waters without being so afraid and so I can have a tiny piece of my life back. I never realized how big of a deal having all of these drinks was. There must be a reason that my legs just started up again after 3 years of nothing. I just don’t understand.

21 Replies

•

What medications are you currently taking?

Only 300 mg of gabapentin 3x per day, and also a weekly vitamin D supplement. Just started taking .5 mg Valium to fall asleep unfortunately.

Gabapentin is one of the medications that is mentioned that is not good to take with Valium.

Anticonvulsants -group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Drugs include Lamictal, Gabapentin, Neurontin, Clonazepam, Rivotril, Carbamazepine.

I know, but it’s prescribed by my doctor for severe anxiety and sleep. It’s the only thing I have.

Please keep in mind that most Doctors know very little about how to treat RLS. Many Doctors do more harm than good for their patients with RLS.

It is ok to do your own research and question what the Doctor is giving you.

I know. I’ve done a bunch of research. I wouldn’t put them into my body at the same time if I didn’t think it was safe enough. It’s a super tiny dose of Valium. I’m also just desperate to feel better.

I also suffer with anxiety and depression, I think most of us with RLS at least suffer with depression due to having to live with RLS.Most of the anti depressant medications make RLS worse, there are a few that people say work well, but off hand I don't know what they are.

And perhaps the Gabapentin would be better to take as a combined dose before bed.

Some people are on a higher dosage than you.

I think you’re right. And yeah, unfortunately a lot of them do. I never had any issues with the ones I was on. The safe ones are serzone, trazodone, and wellbutrin.

I thought about combining it into one large dose, but I have symptoms all day. I need all day coverage. I think the highest people go for RLS is 1200 mg or something like that because the bioavailability decreases as you take more. I was going to switch to pregabalin, but it’s just not a good time right now. I see a new neurologist in 2 weeks, I’m requesting an opioid. I just want it in case the RLS acts up when I eat something. I haven’t eaten anything since Christmas. All I have everyday is water. When I had something with sugar and carbs, my body sucked it up and it completely wired me. I just want to eat and drink again. I’m starving.

I now use Temgesic sublingual 200mcg tablets. Temgesic is micro dosages of Buprenorphine.

I place two Temgesic tablets under my tongue 15mins before going to bed each night.

Temgesic is an opioid medication and my doctor applied for an authority application for me to be able to use controlled drugs.

How does that work for you? Does it last throughout the day for you?

Yes I highly recommend TemgesicI only need to take at night

Hope the neurologist gives you an opioid. I've been taking them for over 20 years and they have quite literally saved my life. I thank God for these meds every day, they make my life as normal as is possible with RLS.

I was a Dr. I too have severe RLS. I definitely wouldn’t take Valium as well as Gabapentin. Also Valium can make RLS worse. I can see no reason why you can’t take the drinks you crave. It will also give you some calories.

Have you taken a DA before & that is why you have RLS all day. It is unusual otherwise.

Drs as others have said often have little knowledge of RLS, even the so called experts. An expert I went to privately gave me rubbish advice.

What about emailing Dr Buchfhurer - others here will give details. He is a real expert & very good at responding & quickly out of the goodness of his heart

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in the meantime then.

Whenever I drink or eat certain foods or drinks with sugars or carbs I get restless, but I don’t know if that’s just because I haven’t had anything besides water in over 2 weeks and my body sucks everything it can up.

I’ve never taken a DA before. That’s why this is so confusing. It doesn’t make sense that it started off all day and quickly spread to my arms. I wasn’t taking any medication at all.

I emailed him and he suggested low-dose opioids. I’m hoping and praying I can get them if I really need them, but I’m 20. Doctors don’t want to give a 20 year old opioids. I’m stuck.

I don’t understand and you definitely need to see a neurologist. Also best to follow your local dr’s advice then & not me.Think you need blood tests.

Just you have to be very careful taking multiple tabs that affect your brain.

20 is certainly young to be as bad as you are so you need to be in expert hands

I occasionally take Ativan to fall asleep.

You could try magnesium taurate and make sure you take equal amount of calcium and vitamin D. Read about magnesium and RLS. See if it sounds like it might help. I totally understand the frustration of being free of something and then having come roaring back. Hang in there.

Hi hun,am in the same boat and I've tried all the restrictions with food,drink and medication and to be totally honest in my opinion it makes absolutely no difference to my rls which I've had since being a teenager am now 54,but that's just my experience and I can't speak for anybody else xx

Was on ropinirole for about 20 years. Found that my daytime rls symptoms were being caused by augmentation. Now take 900 mg of gabapentin about 2-3 hours before bed. Now have almost no daytime symptoms and not enough rls symptoms at night to keep me up. I doubt if your smoothies are the problem. For me, alcohol, caffeine and sugar (as in doughnuts, cakes, brownies) are those foods that get my rls symptoms going. Also strangely pizza, though I love it enough to put up with a few hours of sleeplessness at night.

It sounds like you need to be worked up for severe depression with anorexic features.Do you have access to a good psychiatrist? And a psychotherapist?

I think that might make a world of difference for you. Best wishes.

I have a psychologist but I don’t currently have a good psychiatrist. I think I need to go back on my buspar. I really hope this gets fixed soon. Every day I sit here and think about juice and fruit. I just want it to stop.