Hi.
I think I have PLMS (undiagnosed at the moment), but I don't have RLS. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on any natural remedies that I could try, before going down the medication route?
My husband has had enough sleep disturbance!
Thank you
Hi.
I'm guessing your husband is saying you're kicking him and this could be PLMS. Some people do get it without having RLS. However between 80 and 90% of people with RLS also have PLMS.
The causes and treatment of RLS and PLMS are more or less the same.
I prefer to write about non-pharmacological remedies rather than "natural".
Firstly, because "natural" remedies supposedly come from naturally occurring sources and are extracted using simple processes.
This does not automatically mean they are safe!
Otherwise a lot of "food supplements" aren't necessarily natural and may be more highly processed.
The most significant major causative factor in RLS/PLMS is iron deficiency.
This can be assessed by having a blood test for ferritin. At the same time blood tests for vitamin B12 and vitamin D could be helpful.
Please note that the iron deficiency in PLMS is not necessarily anaemia, it can exist without anaemia.
Whereas a "normal" level of ferritin is anything above 12ug/L for somebody with PLMS it is better if it is at least 100 and better still at least 200.
If your ferritin is below 75ug/L then you can raise it to at least 100 by taking an oral iron supplement. It may take 3 months or more.
Similarly if you have vit B12 or vit D deficiency taking supplements of these will help. A lot of people suffer vit D deficiency!
Another non-pharmacological remedy for PLMS is to check.if anything is exacerbating or triggering the condition. Quite a few commonly used medicines can do this as well as what you eat or drink.
If you do take any other medicine check if it's one known to make PLMS worse.
Keep a food diary to see if your hubby is more bruised on nights you eat particular foods. Poor man!
Generally, sorry, avoid alcohol, caffeine, adding sugar to your drinks and anything with refined sugar or simple carbohydrates.
That is, sugary drinks cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc.
I will write more later.
I am on an early learning curve. I have been treated as if it's PLMD (I have not been diagnosed). I am currently on 4 pramipexole per night. I have yesterday realised that I am getting some reactions to the medication. Nauseous and insomnia. I think one should call it "a bad night". Tossing and turning, one and a half hours sleep.I note from my prescription that it says "to be taken 2-3 hours before bed". Last night I was quite specific in my timing, (we can all get a bit lax on timing). I took mine at 9.00 for a bed time about 11.45. No nauseousness, full nights sleep.
As an addition to that (and Minerva's comments above) I add that my wife suffered a bit with leg pain and has pushed me to try Rhus tox (Mine is made by "nelson's", and sold by my local pharmacy). I have not tried yet, because the Pramipexole has been active only 2 months. The Iron reading is the most important. I cannot recommend Rhus tox as I haven't tried it, but other medication is not clarified yet (for my personal diary). I did try to wean off Pramipexole, within three days I had a leg jerk .
Good luck NANNAN123
Hello spurdog.
I'm sorry you had the reactions to pramipexole, but seemed to have solved the problem.
It is best to take it 2 - 3 hours before bed and the same time every night. I have set an alarm on my smartphone for years.
I note you say you're taking 4 tablets. It is important to keep the dose as low as possible.
If the tabs you're taking are only 0.125mg then that's 0.5 mg altogether.
If they're 0.25mg then that's 1mg.
1mg would be in excess of the official maximum dose, but 0.5mg is still twice the dose that RLS experts recommend.
I hope you are aware then that this increases your risk of dopaminergic augmentation and watch out for signs of this. I wouldn't increase the dose any further than 0.5mg if that is your current dose.
If you do. try to wean off pramipexole it's better to do it in small steps and slowly. Each time you reduce hou will get withdrawal effects which stop many people from withdrawing. This is what has apparently happened to you.
Hi ManervaAs usual your advice is so good. So good I feel it intrusive to ask, as i feel there is some serious knowledge there. Funny you should set an alarm, which i have done half hour ago. Priceless info. Thank you. I had a feeling last night that the 2-3 hours was actually quite critical-to avoid reaction. The box refers 30 tabs at .088mg. and i am taking four.
I "always" (Before this PLM) had a sound sleep, and in general terms i do get the 8 hours. I become ratty if my sleep is short.
Yesterday was bad (I felt ill-nauseous- fire in the throat, and my wife refused me to go out-she said i'd lost colour). It's bitter cold here outside, but i applaud most ppl on this website because some seem at their wits end, where as I am so fortunate to have a mild problem.
Thanks for your kind time Manerva, from everyone
Hello again.
Just to clarify, the tablets you have are 0.088mg which can also be written as 88ug.
I'm afraid this is a little confusing.
88ug is how much pramipexole there is in each tab. The pramipexole is known as the base.
However the tablets con'ain what's known as a salt i.e. pramipexole dihydrochloride and there is 0.125mg of the salt in each tab
88ug base = 0.125mg salt.
If you're taking 4 of these this is approx 360ug of base = 0.5mg salt.
The official maximum dose is 540ug of base = 0.75mg of salt.
Sorry if this is even more confusing but 4 X 88 is 352. The approx figures I give because there are larger tablets of pramipexole of 180ug (0.25mg). You are taking the equivalent of 2 of these. If you were taking 4, that would be 720ug (1mg) which is an excess dose.
I'm relieved you're not 
Actually Manerva I find that clear and helpful, thanks.
single four
pram/base .088 .352 (max=.540-within tolerance)
salt /dihyd .125 .500
total .213 .852
Ooops. Sorry you may have misunderstood.
You are taking 4 X 88ug tabs . You know them as 0.088mg
I call them 0.125mg. (it might say that on the box).
You are therefore taking a total of 352ug.
I would call that 0.5mg.
That's it!
your total is 352ug/0.5mg base/salt.
The pramipexole is contained IN the salt.
I.e. 88ug pramipexole and 37ug dihydrochloride.
Apologies for any confusion.
It does mean you are within the official maximum which is
540ug/0.75mg base/salt.
Sorry I said I'd write more later, but didn't.
There's not really much more to say.
Some people with RLS try various remedies which relieve their symptoms when they happen, the relief tends to be short lived. It's not really possible to do some of them, you'd have to be awakr!
RLS and PLMS
RLS & PLMS
Dizzy with PLMS!
hi could anyone advise on natural remedies that have worked for their restless legs syndrome 
