Re "Help"

[welschrispy]

I am writing this to thank all those who responded to my plea for help. I am very moved and quite overwhelmed by the kindness and good advice I have received. It would seem that I need to overcome my fears about opioids on grounds that they are the lesser of two evils. I am hoping to persuade my new doctor to give me a stronger opioid but have my doubts since she wanted me to cut out the Tramadol. have been wading through the references yo have given me . apologize for asking ... My concentration s not good at the moment. Can anyone cite a "respectable" medical journal which makes the case? She won't take this from me

[LotteM]

Hi Chris, here are the two main references on the use of opioids for RLS.

First the seminal paper on this issue: mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

And next the very recently published updated guidelines for the treatment of RLS. This second paper also includes the use of opioids, bit more importantly gives a complete very clear overview and guide of what other treatment are available / should be tried first. See: mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

I hope they will prove helpful

[Elffindoe]

This is a link to the British National Formulary that identifies that the opioid oxycodone is licensed for RLS in the UK..

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/oxycod...

There is also supporting evidence here

nice.org.uk/advice/esnm67/c...

Also, if you use "google scholars" and enter the search term "opioids for restless legs" you should get some good results.

Just make sure that articles you use are written in research journals, not adverts or popular magazines.

E.g. this one

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/286...

and this

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/273...

[Diggerdog2]

Hi there,my only experience with Tramadol,was for Sciatica. It did help me for the pain,but it definitely affected my sleep,and strangely enough caused me to have mild restless legsI was on 50mg 2xper day,but only took it at night.I have since weaned myself off it completely, by seeing a chiropractor who has helped me immenselyI now no longer have any sleep problems ,or restless legs.I was on Tramadol for about 18 months

[wildlegs]

Unfortunately when it comes to opioid use we are all in the same boat. I’ve had RLS for 25+ years. Nothing ever worked for long. Then low and behold I found a pain doctor in Florida who was understanding and gave me 300 mg of Tramodol and I was sleeping great for three years and then we decided to move 1350 miles away and for the last two years it’s been a nightmare. Now I’m getting about 4 to 5 hours sleep a night . I found a doctor who would prescribe to me 150 mg of Tramodol. Her answer for not giving me more is that I might become addicted. I’m 77 who cares if I become addicted and might have to take it for the next 10 years or so. The minute you mention opioid you might as well be talking to the wall. Good luck! Just hope they come out with something soon for all our sakes. OR my doctor gets RLS and becomes a little more sympathetic.