RLS and migraine

[tog12]

Hi is anyone aware of any information around RLS and migraine. I have had migraine from age 4 and am now 64, some time in my late 40's I started with jumping in my left leg at the end of a migraine attack. I now have RLS as a pre warning of the migraine starting. I have mentioned it when I have been admitted to hospital but they seemed to dissmiss it as they have not heard of it befor. I have no problems at anyother time, I take medication for migraine and abdominal pain.

[Jackiep1216]

I had migraines every month starting at age 20. Once I went through menopause, it turned onto RLS. I'm convinced they are some how related.

[SueJohnson in reply to Jackiep1216]

I notice you are taking gabapentin but it is still not controlling your RLS. How much are you taking and when are you taking it?

[Jackiep1216 in reply to SueJohnson]

I was taking 900mg, 300mg at 6:00pm, and 600mg. 10pm. It wasn't working and giving me headaches. I am now taking 600mg at 10pm and .25 to .37mg of Requip at midnight.

[SueJohnson in reply to Jackiep1216]

Does that control your RLS?

[Jackiep1216 in reply to SueJohnson]

Well, it's not perfect. It starts sometimes before I go to bed, but I'm definitely sleeping at least 5 to 6 hours before it starts up and sometimes it doesn't start up in the morning at all. My problem with the reqip is, I think it is making me impatient, intolerant and cranky. I can't shake it.

[SueJohnson in reply to Jackiep1216]

If you decide to come off the requip, be sure to check back here for advice. I noticed you previously said gabapentin when you took 900 mg gave you a headache. The side effects can take several weeks to wear off. If they continue you might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although they are basically the same drug except you don't need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. Divide the gabapentin amount by 6 to get the correct dose.

[SueJohnson in reply to Jackiep1216]

Also have you had your ferritin checked? Improving it to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS.

[Jackiep1216 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi, so about a year ago it was 444 because I was taking iron. My new sleep doc said to stop as it was too high. It was just checked last month and it was 42. I am back on iron and vit. C.

[BoldMove]

I had migraine starting at age 3. I'm 76. My RLS began very mildly around 2002. Everything I use only works for a few days and then the dose must be upped, therefore I don't take anything and just manage by getting up and walking for 10 to 45 minutes and sometimes ice packs will stop the RLS. I've tried the iron, but it did nothing, yet it has worked for many other people. Good luck. Hope you find something.

[Eryl]

Both RLS and migraine are problems of inflammation of the nerves (the brain is just a whole bunch of nerves). This inflammation is caused by what you're eating. Check out 'foods that cause inflammation'.

[Munroist]

This article below is possibly relevant although you say you have tried Iron supplementation? Supplementing iron is not a straightforward process in many cases and if it’s brain iron then it’s more difficult.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...