Best anti anxiety medication that does not effect RLS

[mantel]

Hi all, Are there any anti anxiety/depressants that do not generally wosen rls symptoms. I have been waking with anxiety for no reason since the menopause . I was trying hrt patches to see if they helped but they have made my rls flare up so have stopped using them . I really need help with the anxiety feelings but know lots of meds also worsen rls symptoms. Are there any that work well that most rls sufferers can tolerate?

[Hidden]

The safest and most effective methods of dealing with anxiety is not drugs.

It's very difficult at this time to to get appropriate help because of the number of people with mental health problems but there are mental health servcies avaialable it's just a matter of getting access to them.

Of particular help is mindfulness CBT and in the UK there is a NHS supported 4 week course in this. It's online and I think it costs £30

bemindfulonline.com/

If your anxiety is overwhelming then a short course of medication will help. All such medications are dependency producing and lose efficacy over time.

The standard medications that a GP woud give you are antidepressants. As you know most of these make RLS worse.

Trazodone is known to be safer for somebody with RLS. Bupropion is another, but isn't easiy avcailable in the UK.

The other things that coud be tried are the benzodiazepines, diazepam used to be fairly commonly prescribed, but doctors are now reluctant since it is dependency producing, potentailly addictive and loses effect in time.

Clonazepam is another, same problems with this but it is sometimes prescribed simply to help with RLS, which it can do.

The benzodiazepines won't make RLS worse, but create other problems.

No drugs for anxiety shoud be taken more than six months, without other therapy and without review.

[Organiker in reply to Hidden]

MoodGym is good too!

[Joolsg]

Anxiety & panic attacks are common in menopause- usually linked to intense hot flushes .

I use diazepam 2mg once or twice a week and never more. That way I don’t become too used to them and they don’t lose effectiveness. They help RLS slightly & are sedating so help with sleep as well.

I hope you find something thaf helps.

[Organiker in reply to Joolsg]

That's what my doc told me. OK to use 500 micrograms of Clonazepam, say two or three times a week at night, for RLS.

[1Ginge1]

I have RLS and now and then get anxiety usually at night. I take Alprazalam .025 which is very low. Most of the time I cut that in half and it works very well. Maybe only use 3 times a week. It helps me sleep very well, wake up refreshed and gets along fine with RLS. Drs. are having a hard time wanting to prescribe any meds that are addictive. Since I am very careful my Dr. has been willing. I usually get a 30 day supply that lasts 3 - 4 months. I feel for you.

[Munroist]

Pregabalin helps with anxiety and I understand that it’s often beneficial for RLS. I believe it’s mainly prescribed for neuropathic pain which is what I took it for but it definitely helped with anxiety and I think it helped with RLS although it did seem a little worse afterwards when I came off it. I believe it’s also not regarded as addictive. My experience was that it was overall helpful but there are some slight side effects which I’d describe as feeling slightly less sharp mentally but the relief was worth it. I’d agree with others that anxiety long term is ideally best managed with other non drug approaches (I find meditation helps) but the few months on pregabalin were useful to get some relief and break certain cycles.

[Hidden in reply to Munroist]

Pregabalin or gabapentin are now the recommended first line treatment for RLS. A shame that this hasn't got around yet.

As side effects they also can help relieve anxiety and promote sleep.

They are licensed for epilepsy and neuropathic pain, but are prescribed "off label" for RLS.

[Organiker]

I can tell you, in my opinion, what drug NOT to take i.e. Mirtazapine. This is known to give RLS. Docs often prescribe this for depression/anxiety with sleep problems as it is sedating. It's a good drug but not for RLS!

[Jumpey]

HiFor short term use diazepam. Hope you get better soon.x

[Jphickory]

I was prescribed Prozac for depression/anxiety in 2010 and caused no increase in RLS symptoms. After 6 months the depression/anxiety cleared and I got off the Prozac with no issues.

I have used clonazepam on many occasions to treat RLS and it had always worked well.

[Jf76]

My husband have RLS and he takes 0.5mg of clonazepam every night during aproximately 9 years, he feel well in this dosage and he sleep well.. I think the dosage is low and never gave him any other health problem...they say can cause dementia but his brain is very sharp... much better than mine that dont take any medicine...Probably can cause health problem in high dosage.

[pennygates]

Hi, Ive been unable to take anti depressants too for the same reason. My GP put me onto Pregablin for RLS . It didnt help my RLS but it did help with anxiety, which is what my GP thought. I had to stop Pregablin for side effects, but not everyone reacts that way. Perhaps its worth discussing with your doctor? Just a thought......