alternative to sertraline due to restless legs

[NJB71]

I have suffered restless legs all my life. A few years ago my dr checked my ferritin level. It was very low and I took iron. My legs got better and I was elated. No one had ever told me there was such a simple solution in all my 71 years. I have also taken sertraline in the past but never associated it with restless legs as I’d always suffered them.

however a couple of months ago I suffered major anxiety and my dr put me back on sertraline.

The restless legs have returned with avengeance despite the iron.

I can’t bear the thought of coming off the sertraline and returning to anxiety attacks, but the legs are driving me crazy every night.

Any suggestions for either treatment for the legs or alternative to sertraline?

[SueJohnson]

Buspar or trazodone, both of which may actually help RLS.

[Thyroid2468 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue. I love your wisdom. what meds and supplements do you take for your RLS. I believe I read earlier that you have yours under control. Question, do Buspar or trazodone help with insomnia. What dose and does it cause fatigue the next day. Although I am only on 50 pregabalin, I feel like a lump the next day.

[SueJohnson in reply to Thyroid2468]

Like many others I augmented on ropinirole - switched doctors and am now on 1500 mg of gabapentin. Buspar won' help insomnia but trazodone should. For daytime drowsiness I would suggest Modafinal but check with your doctor.

[Joolsg]

I agree with Sue. Another possibility may be pregabalin which is sedating and can reduce anxiety. Dr Buchfuhrer suggested it when I emailed him to ask about opioid induced panic attacks & anxiety. It's also first line treatment for RLS.

[cumoneileen]

I have also suffered with RLS for 57 Years. What works for me now is alternating between pramipexole and ropinerole. Your system gets used to a particular drug and it stops working. Have been RLS free now for 3 months. Wonderful.

[Eryl]

Parkinon's and rls are closely related as they have similar causes. Sertraline does not treat Parkinson's, it is an antidepressant. Why not treat both by lowering your systemic inflammation and strengthen your nerves with supplements or a mix of suplements like Seratme. If you go to the page seratme.com/seratme you'll get a good explantion of RLS and its treatment.

[Pennypeaches]

Have you ever tried magnesium supplements ? Many years back I worked on my feet for long hours did this job for over 10 years I had the RLS really bad. I just dealt with it somehow got through it , I know stretching helped. It is said like 60% of people are magnesium deficient. I have been taking it for years it relaxes you muscles and does lots of other good things for your body. The type of magnesium I take is “glycinate”. There are many different forms but this one does not make you have loose bowels. Look up magnesium you will find lots of beneficial information. You can also have your levels tested I only do the RBC Blood test, (Red Blood Cell).

[David7]

Greetings, Welbutrin or the generic bupropion is a good alternative to Sertraline for rls.Works well.

All the best,

David