Restless leg syndrome

Hello. I have joined for my 74 Yr old mother. Who's RlS has been under control. I wonder if its the concoction of medication she is on for her condition however due to pneumonia she was hospitalised and the consultant has taken her off morphine and replaced with Oxycodine due to kidney damage. She also has COPD and they are monitoring her lungs too. She is on strong antibiotics now home but her RLS is going crazy. The UK gp only prescribed quinine for this. I'm not sure again if this is due to other meds. She's not sleeping due to her ever dancing legs. The pharmacy said try magnesium cream which actually has helped a tiny bit but do you have any ideas please?

[Hidden]

I am so sorry to hear your mum's situation.

It's a complicated case.

Firstly, the antibiotics may possibly be making the RLS worse. They can destroy natural bacteria in the gut which are needed to absorb some nutrients vital for people with RLS. Hopefully at some time they will re-establish themselves. Live yoghurts or probiotics may help.

Quinine is a very old remedy for night cramps which I believe doctots confused with RLS. It is quite toxic can cause electrolyte imbalance, not such a good idea if you have a kidney problem AND basically, there's no evidence it works for RLS.

Oxycodone, however, is recognised as a treatment for RLS. I wonder then how long your mum has been on this and what dose?

Your mum should have also have had blood tests for iron deficiency. However, this does not mean anaemia. People with RLS can suffer iron deficiency even if not anaemic. The significant blood test is one for serum ferritin.

There is a simple rule that if this is below 75ug/L then it's a good idea to start taking an oral iron supplement. If your mum has had a ferritin test recently, it would help to know the number. Being told it's "normal" or "OK" is of no help whatsoever.

"Gentle iron", ferrous bisglycinate is popular. It is gentle on the gut, causing least problems. It's best to take it every two days, not daily.

Vitamin B12 and vitamin D supplements may also help.

If your mum's taking any other medications these may also be making her RLS worse. This includes things like antidepressants, sedating antihistamines, some antacids, anti-emetics, some statins, some BP meds and non potassium sparing diuretics.

If your mum hasn't had specific RLS medications before, then this is an option. She's already on oxycodone. It may be that another could be added, but really only if absolutely necessary. They could create more issues for your mum.

You can find out more detail about the management of RLS from this web site.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/rest...

Please note this site is only accessible from a UK IP address.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

She's only been on oxycodone a week now and was on lisprinol but has been removed for a while. She is also on on a anti depression drug sertaline l think along with lots more for copd . I will check when l call her. She is b12 deficient and is over due her vaccine. She is getting a blood test tomorrow to check u and e levels again.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

See if she's getting her ferritin tested, it really is very significant. Iron deficiency is a major causative factor in RLS.

Sertraline makes RLS worse.

Maybe after only a week the oxycodone hasn't become fully effective yet.

If she recently ( and suddenly) stopped morphine, she may also be having some withdrawal effects from that.

Please keep us posted.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I will. Thank you so much

[Ducatidave]

Hi Chrissy. Please do one thing... look at what is being eaten. Reduce salt greatly, chocolate and caffeine. If the legs are really bad use a heat bag out of the microwave to heat up the legs as hot as possible. Don’t get lost with drugs etc.

Hope this may bring some relief

Dave

[Pat9]

I suffer with this and I did have it under control, recently I have had to take antibiotics and the RLS has been awful, I now think there is a connection. Could be that I do sympathise xx

[yinyin]

I use powdered magnesium mixed with water (approx 1 tsp) before bedtime & rub my legs at night with cream and cbd cream also. Sometime spray magnesium. Ongoing problem for 50 some years, but do pretty well now. Alson take tramadol when I can get it and another one I'll have to get back to you on, as I can't remember name of.. I don't like very well as it makes me woosy but only help I can get from my doc. I really notice a difference if I don't take magnesium and calcium.. Also raw iron pills help along with Vitamin B's & B 12.

Hope this is of some help.

Susan, Calif.

[restlesscarer]

Hi I took Sertraline for a few days and could not sleep at all so stopped, definitely a connection.