Sedation and RLS

[ToJa2]

Hi

I am going into hospital for a procedure.

They will need to sedate me with Midazolam. Is this ok for someone who has RLS?

Many thanks

[SueJohnson]

Yes - it is OK. It is a benzodiazepine.

[ToJa2 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue.

Are there any sedatives that do make RLS worse? Just in case the decide to use a different one!

[SueJohnson in reply to ToJa2]

Unfortunately I don't have a list of these. I would have to know the specific medicine. Tell your doctors and anesthesiologists about your RLS and its symptoms and that you need your medicine and ask if there will be any drug interactions from what they will give you. Also talk with the patient representative ahead of time. It is a good idea to bring your own medicine, but don't tell them you have it since they will insist on giving you medicine prescribed by the hospital. That way if they don't follow through you can take the medicine you brought. Tell them not to give you any sedating antihistamines or sedating anti-nausea medications. Instead insist they use Zofran for anti-nausea. You can download the Medical Alert Card that you can show your doctors, that tells them about the condition and what will happen after surgery and what medicines to avoid at rlshelp.org/ although you will need to join the RLS foundation. An international membership is $40, but they have some good information on it and you get their monthly magazine. However the safe antidepressants listed on medical alert card are not antidepressants: Lamotrigine, Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine.

Edited to remove had a friend and to ask your doctor about drug interactions. SueJohnson

PLEASE NOTE: A patient must comply with the rules of the hospital regarding their medication when going in for a procedure/operation. Getting a friend to bring in medication is inadvisable and taking in medication without the consultant/doctors consent is also inadvisable. Kaarina

[Butterflysun1 in reply to SueJohnson]

that is not appropriate advice. It could be unsafe to take own medication along with what is given in hospital. That is overstepping our remit on this forum and is unwise.

There are all sorts of unsafe drug interactions which can occur. It is vital to let staff know what you take normally & then take what is advised.

I strongly suggest you amend what you have written

[SueJohnson in reply to Butterflysun1]

Done

[Butterflysun1 in reply to SueJohnson]

see some replies below - NO, do not take your own medication you bring in. You can have no idea if it would be safe taken along with what they might give you in hospital. Only take what they give you

[Heavyd65]

yes… of course… do not let them give you any antihistamine’s as it will make your RLS much worse….you’ll be like the Karate Kid…no Benadryl