As the heading suggests, I have been asked by a fellow sufferer what medications should we avoid. I have come up with the following:
Some nausea, eg Stemetil, can't think of the other one,
Anything containing anhistamine, eg cold and flu, allergies,
Some antidepressants, eg Prozac, Zoloft.
Could you guys please add to this list.
I have 2-1/2 pages single spaced of drugs to avoid. But in general: sedating antihistamines not all antihistamines, SSRI and SNRI antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, statins, diuretics, estrogen, lithium, melatonin, many but not all anti-nausea medicines, some but not all antacids, some but not all beta blockers, some but not all anti-hypertensives, some but not all blood thinners, some but not all anti-anxiety, many medicines that treat bipolar and other mental health problems, many medicines that treat epilepsy, and many drugs that treat GERD
Thanks so much for replying, I told my friend, who is new to our forum, to check out what I had said in my post to the forum, and told her to check it out for helpful replies that can be safely used.
If she needs a specific type of medicine, I can an answer that if you tell me what she needs.
No she wasn't asking about any specific med. I was actually telling her about not being able to take nausea meds, and that there was only the one medicine that my RLS could handle. And she asked me was there anything else that triggered restless legs. That's where it came from. So I figured it would be a good idea to ask the forum for their opinion regarding this topic.
In terms of antinausea medications: The main ones to avoid are metoclopramide, droperidol and haloperidol. The ok ones are cyclizine, ondansetron and ganisetron.
Yep I can take ondansetron.
See my reply to bergfex.
I have seen a number of posts where cyclizine made their RLS symptoms worse so I would suggest sticking to Granisetron and ondansetron. Obviously everyone responds differently but those are known to be safe.
Is that list available on this site Sue?
No
The RLS UK website lists many of the meds that worsen RLS, as does rls.org.
The usual culprits are sedating anti histamines, most anti depressants, statins, beta blockers, anti psychotics, anti nausea meds and PPI acid reflux pills.
Well that's good news, but I actually tried to get the acquired information from the website that you recommended. But had trouble in finding the requires information. I also tried the RLS.org website, but again came up empty. So I am gonns to have to rely on you guys.
I have been taking rosuvastatin for many years without any effect on my RLS. Is that an exception?
It would appear so. Just proves that We Are All Different ( WAAD) & there will be exceptions to the general rule.
Believe it or not I found that Midazolam will exacerbate RLS up to a week after taking it. I was given midazolam for a colonoscopy and for a week afterward my RLS was terrible. While this is not a drug and is a food additive you must avoid MSG. At least for me it drives me crawling up walls.
Another drug to avoid is melatonin and many sleeping pills. Melatonin for me is a definite stay away drug.
Finally, if you’re ever prescribed medications for pain (opiates) you may find that they cause RLS after their effect has worn off.
I can not take ibuprofen. That sets my legs off terribly.
Don’t forget it’s not just meds it’s foodstuffs and sugar/artificial sugar as well.
Benadryl???
YES YES YES. I was always given benadryl as a child. Actually loved the taste so used to sneak it. As an adult .... NO
Is venlafaxine/Effexor a trigger for RLS? If so, is it possible to have taken it for a long time with no problems and then suddenly start having unrelenting RLS nightly?
It definitely exacerbates RLS symptoms in some.
I do take Wellbutrin, Allegra, rosuvastatin and Zofran with no problem.
Having had 4 courses of antibiotics I am taking probiotics and my RLS has got much worse. Is there a connection?
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