Ozempic

[LanaCSR]

Does anyone know if Ozempic (injectable for diabetes) will aggravate RLS or not? Also, are there any allergy meds that will not aggravate RLS?

[SueJohnson]

None of the non sedating antihistamines like claritin will aggravate RLS symptoms. Benadryl which is sedating will.

[LanaCSR in reply to SueJohnson]

Would that be antihistamines that aggravate RLS?

[SueJohnson in reply to LanaCSR]

I thought my comment was very clear so I don't understand your question.

[LanaCSR]

You don't have to be rude. Jeez!!

[Madlegs1 in reply to LanaCSR]

She wasn't being rude.She couldn't understand how you were not able to understand her answer.

[LanaCSR in reply to Madlegs1]

Well, then something is wrong with her if she can't understand my reply because there are much nicer ways to reply to someone than saying "I thought my comment was very clear"!! Excuse me for not understanding the first time. All I was saying was she doesn't have to be so rude. We are all on here looking for help and sharing our experiences with others, and we don't need negative comments like that. I'm sorry if she couldn't understand my reply.

[SueJohnson in reply to LanaCSR]

I certainly had no intention of being rude . I am sorry.

[LanaCSR]

Whatever

[yohlense]

Was given Ozempic. Didn't seem to affect my RLS, but I couldn't tolerate it, was sick to my stomach, couldn't eat. Heartburn and vomiting. So just beware.

[LanaCSR in reply to yohlense]

Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry. Thank you for your input!

[Callyv]

Heads up, I didn’t think fexofenadine was a sedating antihistamine/allergy medication but it definitely is one I’m now avoiding as I had the worst RLS after taking it. Important to know now that it is available over the counter. The gp confirmed it was a possible cause and suggested I stop taking rather than take something else for the legs.

[SueJohnson in reply to Callyv]

Yes - it is known to exacerbate RLS symptoms. Sorry you had to suffer to find this out.

[marsha2306 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hmmmm. That’s generic for Allegra which is not a sedating antihistamine. I’ve taken it for years.

[SueJohnson in reply to marsha2306]

You are right. I was wrong.

[marsha2306 in reply to SueJohnson]

👌it’s ok. I just wanted to clarify. No harm done.

[BocaMom]

Ozempic - I took for a period of about 2 months and it did seem to aggravate my RLS a bit. That being said, my legs weren’t much worse than usual. Ozempic was wonderful in that it helped me drop fat around my middle. It does take time to get past the nausea.

I also thought Ozempic made me a little bit “racy” and thus harder to sleep, but that wore off too.

I take Zyrtec as needed and it doesn’t aggravate my RLS whereas Benadryl definitely does.

[LanaCSR in reply to BocaMom]

Good to know! Thank you!!

[Daewood1949 in reply to BocaMom]

I have a close friend who has RLS too and is on ozempic-I did not realize it affected RLS-how long can one be on ozempic? The antihistamine Benadryl will definitely have an effect.

[BocaMom in reply to Daewood1949]

I was taking Ozempic mainly for weight loss, with the added benefit of lowering my blood sugar. I'm not sure how long it is recommended to stay on it. When I quit my appetite came roaring back unfortunately (takes about 4 weeks to totally leave your system from what I understand).

I'm also not sure why it seemed to make my RLS a tiny bit worse; there is some thought that it affects your digestion so perhaps you're not absorbing sufficient vitamins/minerals (??). This is complete speculation on my part though. It's also possible that the side effect would wear off, similar to the nausea many people experience when first taking it.

As an aside, my sibling has lost 30-40 lbs on Ozempic, and they absolutely love it.

I still worry about the long-term effects.

[Daewood1949 in reply to BocaMom]

Thanks for replying Boca Mom. I'll tell her. She told me it so expensive too.. I do believe you are right about it interfering with absorbing sufficient vitamins and minerals.

[BocaMom in reply to Daewood1949]

Again, pure speculation on my part. My sibling has had such incredible results that I think it may be worth it for some people. I've been flirting with the idea of trying it again but we shall see ha ha.

Yes it is expensive unless you can get it via insurance or your HSA (I'm in the US though). I paid out-of-pocket for it after my doc's samples ran out.

[Daewood1949 in reply to BocaMom]

A person probably has to have diabetes like my friend-gee, I'D like to try it for weight loss but do not have diabetes. She has a prescription for it. BocaMom about Benadryl-it is such a wonderful drug for allergies, hives, rashes but it makes me fee absolutely ill. For RLS. Gabapentin has worked for me and codeine but both are not without major problems (addiction) That terrible feeling of not getting any rest at night is so horrible;we are all desperate for relief. We all have to be kind to each other on this forum and not be abrupt. Just be kind.

[BocaMom in reply to Daewood1949]

I don't have diabetes, thankfully, and I was able to get it on an off-label basis.

Agree with you on Benadryl. It's unfortunate because it works and I like it; have had no ill effects from it other than the RLS issue (and then it made sense to me why my RLS sometimes seems worse).

One other aside - testosterone was AWFUL for me, for my RLS. Started seeing a neurologist the same year I started hormone pellets which shot my testosterone through the roof. I didn't put it together, though, until a couple years later when I tried testosterone cream and my ferritin dropped in half almost immediately.

It's interesting how some things will affect some people. Have read other RLS sufferers take testosterone with no problems.

[angelak398]

Hello Lana: I have been taking Ozempic for at least a couple of years. I did not notice any increase in the RLS. RLS has proven to be severely aggravated, in my case, by antihistamines and decongestants. However, I am uncertain as to the brand name.

[marsha2306]

I took Ozempic for about 2 months. It didn’t affect my RLS but it started to make me feel sick at that time so I stopped.

[LanaCSR in reply to marsha2306]

I am so glad I asked y'all about the Ozempic because my doctor said with my A1c at 6.0 I don't really "need" to take it, but he would prescribe it for me if I wanted it to help me lose some weight. But after hearing about y'all's experiences and side effects, I told him I wasn't interested in it. Thank you everyone for your input! 😘

[marsha2306 in reply to LanaCSR]

Try it! Just don’t use it for a long period of time or if it starts to make you sick. My A1C is 5.6 but I tried it for weight loss. I lost 12 lbs.

[ChewieandAsha in reply to marsha2306]

How do you loose the weight? I have been on it for two months now have not lost a pound.

[marsha2306 in reply to ChewieandAsha]

I have no idea what the mechanism is. My cousin was on it for an extended period of time and lost over 60 lbs.

[ChewieandAsha]

What are the side effects of Ozempic ?

[LanaCSR in reply to ChewieandAsha]

I'm not sure who you meant this question for, but I don't know what the side effects are since I've never tried it before. 🤔

[ChewieandAsha]

I am on 1.5mg/ml 3ml pen injection once a week.