Antibiotics triggering your RLS???

[Chancery]

Hi folks! Just a query about whether any of you have experienced RLS from antibiotics. I currently have an intractable UTI that I've had since about the 20th of January. I'm on my third lot of antibiotics and I've been given Co-Amoxiclav, a combination antibiotic. On the second day of use I had very bad RLS, real old-school attack: tossing & turning, twitching, feeling frantic and wired, with burning-hot lower legs (my lower legs and feet not only get super-hot in bed they actually turn bright red) which lasted for hours and was finally only quelled by taking diazepam. And I've had the same trouble every night since, with 4 more days to go!

Entirely coincidentally, I got a reply tonight from another old post asking about Sucralose, and rereading it I discovered I'd been on antibiotics then too. Surely NOT a coincidence!

Again, forced into wild wakefulness last night, I got up and got the antibiotic leaflet and read the side effects to see if they mentioned it. Nothing on RLS, but I did see in the 'very rare side effects' that it can cause "hyperactivity". It also causes convulsions rarely, so I'm thinking there's definitely neurological effects. I'm assuming that because I have the RLS 'gene', as it were, that the "hyperactivity" is what's triggered my RLS.

Anyone else have the suspicion, or direct experience, that antibiotics can trigger RLS? Not sure what I can do about it anyway, since you need to take them sometimes, but I'd just like to know. I'm thinking that perhaps I could request diazepam when I have to take them again. Although doctors terror of handing out diazepam is off the scale (I have some unused tablets from dental treatment which I'm using).

I'm also curious - diazepam is, I believe, a muscle relaxant. I've never taken medication for RLS, but I'm pretty sure I've read muscle relaxants are one of the options. It looks like they might work for me, so perhaps there is a relaxant I could ask for that wouldn't freak doctors out as much as the 'drug-seeking' reputation of asking for diazepam.

Any info on antibiotics or muscle relaxant treatment very gratefully received. Thanks!

P.S. I know no-one here thinks this is a minor problem! But when you have a UTI and are in pain and being woken to by a twitchy bladder every ten minutes you do NOT need RLS too. I'm chronically sleep-deprived right now so something that could help while taking antibiotics would be exceptionally useful.

[Hidden]

It is known that antibiotics can kill the natural bacteria in the gut, including those needed for proper digestion and absoprtion of some nutrients.

I'd suggest taking some probiotics.

[Chancery in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I have them lined up for when the antibiotics are finished.

[Hidden in reply to Chancery]

Why wait?

And in addition some potassium citrate mixture might also help.

[Chancery in reply to Hidden]

Because it's a waste of expensive probiotics! Taking a strong combination antibiotic kills ever single bacteria in them, just like it kills the bad guys. I would literally be flushing them down the toilet.

I don't know potassium citrate mixture. Can you tell me what that does?

[Hidden in reply to Chancery]

Good point re the probiotics, I wasn' thinking - sorry.

Most bacteria that infect the bladder/urethra like an acidic environment and urine is normally acidic. The Pot Cit Mixt turns it alkaline and helps fight bacteria. It's usually used for cystitis.

[Chancery in reply to Hidden]

No need to apologise - that advice (to take probiotics while on antibiotics) is handed out everywhere, and it's really bad science. It's a bit like 'eat less and move more' for weight loss; we're all so used to hearing it we just take it as accepted wisdom when it is patently nonsense.

And I recognise the Pot Cit mix now - it's what they put in the cystitis mixtures, isn't it? I use sodium bicarbonate, which does the same thing. Unfortunately though when you've got a rogue infection like this one it just makes you more comfortable rather than really helping to kill anything - but hey, don't knock being more comfortable, eh?

[Hidden in reply to Chancery]

It's always good to be more comfortable.

[Eryl in reply to Chancery]

You can save on expensive probiotics by cutting out processed food and stick to natural fresh foods. That would strengthen your immune system and microbiome, and make it less likely that you'd pick up infections and probably eliminate your rls as well.

[Chancery in reply to Eryl]

Thanks, Eryl, I agree with you. I've been working towards that for some months now. Trying to ease myself into a ketogenic diet, which I think I'd actually enjoy, but my brain keeps panicking at the thought of never eating cheesecake again and shanghaiing my good intentions!

[Eryl in reply to Chancery]

If you knew the relief of being free of rls and being able to relax and be totally aware of your surroundings, I think you'd make the effort. Good luck.

[bookish]

Morning Girlfriend! Sorry about the UTI, that sounds miserable. Very interesting question that you have raised there and got me wondering. I had RLS from childhood (used to wake Dad, kicking the wall!)- tons of antibiotics for ear and throat infections, through teenage and into adult - ditto for acne, wisdom teeth and assorted other. Only really stopped (which it has) when I sorted diet and vitamins/minerals. I suspect that getting vitamin D good, possibly some C and natural E but definitely magnesium (which also helps me sleep) has done the trick. I can't know how much the gluten/dairy was affecting that particular problem but I suspect it was a part, especially because of poor absorption - things like iron. I always suffered with cramp too. Seem so many interlinked causes - B12 and folate again of course and RLS runs in the family (sorry!) absolutely alongside the B12D and PA, so I guess getting those sorted has played a part too. It could be that the antibiotics are depleting your B12 and folate, or that you are reacting to a filler, as well as them unsettling your microbiome. Oddly a few people report feeling better with antibiotics, but more seem to be worse. As Manerva says, some probiotics would seem to make sense, or yoghurt etc. But I'd also try the magnesium and check B12 xx

[Chancery in reply to bookish]

It's my Thelma! (Or are you Louise?) Yeah, you and I share the horrible antibiotic dosing history, I practically grew up on them for 'sore throats'. I think I'm reaping the 'benefits' now. Every UTI I get, and I'm getting them MUCH more often than I used to - I think the dreaded 'dryness' is what's abetting that - I'm having to take multiple antibiotics to get them to work. I've had to have 3 lots this time, but my test results came back negative. Always a problem when you've had a lot of antibiotics. I've got two more days to go so I'm hopeful that will be me done. They don't half knock the stuffing out you. I always get thrush-lite when I take them. Just what you need, itching as well as feeling like you need to pee all the time. I haven't slept properly since about the 18th of January, when this started.

I'm on Vit D and magnesium daily anyway, and I'm due a B12 injection next week. I was late getting that - my own fault. But it might pick me up a bit. But since posting that last night I did my own experiment and took the antibiotics with nothing else. Result. A little twitchy, but NOTHING like the previous two nights. So, I think it's a drug cross-reaction. I was taking painkillers (Paracetamol and the odd Ibuprofen) and melatonin and valerian with them. So I'm guessing one or more of those was adversely interacting with the antibiotics. After these ABs are finished I'm going to actually experiment with all those supplements/drugs and make sure they are all okay. Don't want a repeat of this. I'm looking at melatonin as the most likely culprit. I've definitely seem some people on here say it causes problems.

I wouldn't normally take all those supplements, or painkillers! But I was trying to get a decent night's sleep and not be woken every two minutes. That'll teach me....

[bookish in reply to Chancery]

That put a big grin on my face again! I'll let you choose!! I'd be quite happy to look like either..... Yes, antibiotics made me itch too so I'm almost glad that I react so badly now that I won't take them (perhaps in absolute need - like yours!). Interesting about the cross-reactions - I would plump for the melatonin too. A friend who didn't have RLS had muscle jumping, cramping and pain on melatonin and I just found this from a quick search:

"The tingling or "creepy-crawly" feeling in the legs that often keeps people awake could be worsened by melatonin. The supplement can intensify RLS symptoms because it lowers the amount of dopamine in the brain, according to the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation."

whereas valerian seems to be well regarded as helpful in RLS. Doesn't mean it suits you though, so some experimentation sounds like a good plan. I really hope you remain 'a little twitchy' or less and get some better sleep. The B12 can only help. Sending a hug xx

[Chancery in reply to bookish]

Your hugs, as always, are beloved by me. All the love I get these days! But a girlfriend soulmate hug is more valuable than any man-hug anyway. X

[bookish in reply to Chancery]

Yes, I think you are probably right there - never had a girlfriend soulmate before though! Sending another xx

[Chancery in reply to bookish]

Well, you got one now, ready to spring into action to save you any time you need saving. XX

[bookish in reply to Chancery]

Thank you!! It's nice to know I've got you. Years ago when I was seeing a pain psychologist he used to say imagine he was tiny and sitting on my shoulder, routing for me and I could talk to him or ask him what he would do (he was a nice guy!) - so now you are sitting on my shoulder xx

[Chancery in reply to bookish]

Wow he was a nice guy. You lucked out there. But I am thoroughly enjoying the idea of myself as a shoulder elf. I'm thinking of using it when people ask me what my job is instead of having to do the "Well, I'm technically disabled..." speech. Shoulder Elf is MUCH more prestigious.

[bookish in reply to Chancery]

Prestigious and essential! And I'm quite well padded, so it should be both comfortable and stable, not too much chance of falling off!! So no mere elf on a shelf for you..... xx

[finder1234]

I replied to rls sufferer to day 12- 3- 2021. Try lithium orotate lithium balance by Good Health Naturally 5 mg per tablet you could be surprised....but dont eat late in the day ...especially sweet things.

[Chancery in reply to finder1234]

Thanks, Finder, I'll look that up.