I take nebivolol (beta blocker) and micardis to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat (minor).I have refractory rls and have just commenced weaning slowly off Sifrol (.250 mg)
Just wondering if ALL beta blockers worsen rls or does anyone have one that’s ok to use?
My cardiologist had no idea that beta blockers could aggravate rls!
Strangely some of my posts are also under ‘slipslopslap’....no idea why!
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Retiredlady
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Yes, I agree with you as I am standing here with greatly worsened RLS. I have been taking Metoprolol for about a year now and at first it did not seem to effect my RLS and did a great job at alleviating the tachycardia. I believe it is a dopamine agonist of sorts and it’s cousin propranolol has been used to treat Parkinson’s tremors - a certain kind of tremor. Like any good DA it will eventually result in augmentation. I have been going crazy trying to figure out why my mild RLS is suddenly out of control, continues on into the morning and sometimes during the day. My tinnitus is also MUCH worse and I feel depressed sometimes. I’m a worrier not really a depressed person.
I believe this is all a result of the Metoprolol. Well, truth be told, ILOVE IT. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about RLS, I screw up yet again. This is quite an awful drug then if you have RLS because it is not just making the symptoms of RLS worse (after taken for a while) but might also down-regulate our receptors which will then take time to normalize. I always wondered what augmentation felt like. Not great. Time will tell if it’s the Metoprolol but I’m guessing that is the case. At least statins, and most likely HRT, are dopamine antagonists that make symptoms worse immediately, but in the long run might actually up-regulate the receptors
I just recently started Propranolol/ Beta Blocker and had no exacerbation of my RLS. Prior to starting it a few weeks ago I asked the same question you have. Some people had no increased restlessness though there was at least one person who did have an increase. You might want to try to find that discussion.
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