Current gold standard for Meds

[Wanted-sleep]

What is the current gold standard for medication for RLS sufferers?

Life sucking condition!

Looking for Kratom equivalent that has a financial savings.

[Elffindoe]

Hi.

Firstly, just a tip. One of the advantages of this site is that of both anonymity and confidentiality. These are, I believe, mentioned in the general terms and conditions.

If that picture's you, you've compromised both these. No problem if that's not one for you, but you might want to delete the picture.

It's a matter of opinion what the gold standard medication for RLS is. Some might say an opioid because opioids may work when all else fails.

However, opioids aren't the first medications recommended for RLS. Opioids are usually only prescribed when other medications have failed.

Kratom is not a medication, it's a "food supplement", that is in countries/states where it is still legal.

I'll write more later.

[Elffindoe]

Later.

I've never used Kratom so have no idea what it costs.

Unfortunately, as regards the recommended medications for RLS, I have no idea of that either. They are all prescribed medications, which Kratom isn't.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the Canadian health care system. As you may know here in the UK it is a publicly funded system, so I pay nothing for my medications.

I can tell you what the recommended medical treatments for RLS are and then, I guess you can find out what they might cost.

You can't legally get a RLS medication without a prescription.

Firstly - medications are NOT the first treatment for RLS. The treatnent of RLS comprises mainly 4 areas, only one being medication. The four are :-

1) Iron therapy. This is because the main cause of RLS is iron deficiency.

2) Aggravating factors : The identification and if possible, the elimination of things which may be making RLS worse.

3) Medications

4) Self help measures.

You need to consult a doctor.

Bear in mind when you do this that most doctors are quite ignorant about how to manage RLS.

1) Iron therapy ; thyerecommednations are that if all other blood tests are normal then if your FERRITIN level is

a) below 75, start taking an oral iron supploment. No need for a prescription. Over the counter supplments are quite cheap.

b) between 76 and 100, seek an IV iron infusion. This could be quite expensive, but up to 60% of people receiving an infusion have no need for medications.

2) Aggravating factors ; avoiding these can help improve RLS signifcantly in some cases.

Common everyday triggers for RLS are alcohol, sugar, nicotine, caffein and other stimlants.

The two main aggravating factors are

a) Other medications

b) Diet, inflammation and gut health.

You can read more about these in other posts or in the pinned posts on this site.

Possibly useful supplements include magnesium, vitamin B12/folate, vitamin D, probiotics or a strong anti-oxidant e.g, selenium or celery juice.

3)Medications :

This depends on whether your RLS is intermittent, i.e. occurs less than twice a week, or is persistent, occurs more than twice a aweek.

For intermittent RLS the recommendations are EITHER, levodopa, a benzodiazepine or a weak opioid e.g. tramadol or codeine. These are taken only on an "as necessary" basis.

For persistent RLS the recommended first line medications are either pregabalin or gabapentin. These are preventative medcines and are taken every day.

If these fail then the next suggested medicines are called dopamine agonists. These may be less expensive than the above two, but beware. Their true cost is in terms of the complications they may cause and that's why they're not the first recommendation.

Opioids are usually only prescribed when the first two have failed.

You can find out more about the recommended treatments for RLS on this web site

mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

If you have further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

[Cowbsky in reply to Elffindoe]

Hi, Elfindoe, and Wanted...

4) " Self help measures."... love it! See for the first time here in the blog. This is my number (1), actually, working marvaleously for me (and many others in my Energy Medicine communities) since some 1.5 years, and pretty much sure is going to keep going on.Things, mainly, such as as EFT, and Pranic Healing make wonders for me, that is, able to battle any RLS crisis in less than some 15 minutes, while awake in the middle of the night (about 3 to 4;00 pm). This can be well merged with Clonazepam 0.4 mg, even better!

Just in case, please see refer to some another of my posts.

all the best and good luck

[Cowbsky in reply to Cowbsky]

There, in canada, you maybe could start contacting ...Lorne Brown...chinese medicine Vancouver..British Columbia.., healthyseminars.com/product...

ALL the best

[Cowbsky in reply to Cowbsky]

If not the open mind Dr. Lorne Brown, he could eventually recommend someonelse..Good luck

[Kaarina Administrator]

Hi Wanted-sleep,

Welcome to our community.

If you wish to remain anonymous, it is highly recommended that you do not share any photos that could identify you.

It is also a good idea to lock one's postings.

You may find this link helpful: healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...

[Jumpey]

Welcome.You have had some good advice from Elffindoe. Kratom works for some people . I have tried it and it gave me around 3-4 hours sleep.However I had to stop taking it because it eventually triggered oesophagal pain.Others too find cannabis oil which includes THC helpful. I have tried this and it gives me around 3 hours sleep. You really need to get your iron levels looked at. Many people with a low ferritin level find that increasing their level with iron supplements stops their RLS.Good luck.x

[TheDoDahMan]

Don't buy kratom at head shops, gas stations, or other small retail outlets: there are often problems with mislabeling and expensive pricing. Use online outlets which advertise quality control programs - buy by the kilo, which nowadays are often priced at US $80-100 per kilo, which translates to 8-10 cents US per gram. Read up on kratom before you make a decision to use it - there are several on this forum who have experience with it. Best of luck!

[Jerry57]

Hi, For me, tramadol is the only thing that works. I've been taking it over 20 years, started at 50 mg/day, and am now up to 300 mg a day/night. My doctor tried all the other typical medications, but none worked for me until tramadol. Hope this helps.