ventlafaxine

would anyone know if this antidepressant aggravates RLS?

My GP has just suggested this after my spending time in an appointment for anxiety and depression...

my RlS is well know to my doctors but it's been advised to me.

Thank you

[SueJohnson]

Yes - it is a SNRI antidepressant which will make RLS worse for many. Safe antidepressants are trazodone and Wellbutrin.Trazodone is also good for anxiety and insomnia.

[Hidden in reply to SueJohnson]

thank you Sue.

When she offered this ( after long reminder from me about my legs and how I went privately to get my rls treated because my nhs doc wasn't v good or sympathetic ) I thought I better check this out. I looked on the web and deduced it would make things worse and now you've confirmed it.

Thanks so much again .

[Renaul]

yes, it does affect RLS. I take it for depression and anxiety but most meds affect RLS. I now have my RLS pretty well controlled on Temgesic.

But the Temgesic is causing mouth and dental problems.

As I say, they all come with side effects and I am fed up taking meds to counteract the side effects of other meds

[DicCarlson]

In addition it's a nasty drug! Fraught with discontinuation syndrome and VERY hard to get off. A friend was prescribed it 20 years ago for post postpartum depression - she's still on it!

I found this article, and from my own experience (before anti-depressants were invented!) depression is temporary - my therapy was high dose B vitamins. I still take them 50 years on.

alternativetomeds.com/blog/...

[Hidden]

thank you all for your replies

[bookish]

Hi, personally I didn't find it aggravated my RLS, but I only took a very small dose as that was all I could tolerate, and even getting off that was tricky. Now I don't have RLS and don't have anxiety or depression more than would be considered appropriate (life having a tendency to throw stuff at you that needs time to process), and like DicCarlson, B vitamins (particularly B12) made a huge difference and could make an enormous difference to you. Ideally get tested first, as supplementing skews the results, but as serum B12 test cannot rule out a deficiency (you can have one at any serum level), don't assume yours is OK. Magnesium really helped me too. Best wishes

[Strike26]

Every med I have taken has little effect, most tend to do a bit and then fade altogether- with venlafaxine in May because the RLS is now so extreme, my GP suggested doubling the dose and taking it twice a day. It did work for several weeks. But a word of warning from someone who has no problem coming off meds other than slight anxiety. I completely missed some classic side effects when I was taking them and having worked with hundreds of young people (mostly young women who had suffered the worst of unwanted sexual advances from men because few social workers wanted to work with that group in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s) this drug did two things. My step daughter, in her mid 30’s (her mum, my wife, died several years ago and we had a beautiful dad/daughter and best friends relationship over 20 years that grew even closer following our star being taken) then noticed my moods could go from 0 to 100 in a matter of minutes and I would question how long her marriage was going to last in a really intense destructive way (verbally I emphasise) . As I was saying these things I knew they were totally wrong but my inhibitions were out of control. Worse, in part my own fault for not realising it was going on, and that I had been lazy and not mourned my wife’s death properly, I fantasised that my stepdaughter would be mum 2.0. I wrote a long email in which I ended up saying I accepted she was happy with her husband, but that I would like photos of her. Yes, those kind of photos. The answer was obviously no,and I want to note here I had no other sexual fantasies about her whatsoever. I did two things in the next 24 hours. I contacted a therapist I knew of, whose reputation was second to none, and I halved the dose- the positive effect happened within 18 hours and I stopped them altogether two weeks afterwards. What I cannot stop is the effect on what was a beautiful dad (she decided to all me that 15 years back - her natural father is a pig- her words, although I completely agree) and daughter relationship. A lot of meds have side effects but it has destroyed the closeness we had and I must question all of my life. It was a one off- my therapist is convinced of that she says and my daughter is clear that is so, but for me.whilst I can mostly accept there views, the shame I feel is beyond words. So be careful and always get someone close that sees you regularly to read the information and can watch you and act if necessary. I don’t know if this helps but I felt I had to say this.

[SueJohnson in reply to Strike26]

I am so sorry but please forgive yourself. I notice you say you are taking ropinirole and it doesn't help much. How much are you taking, and did it used to work?

[Strike26 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue - I do take Ropinirole (did I say that in a previous msg???). Officially 6mg a day -,I have even double dosed at times. Does it work? I have an average of 4/5 days a week- day and night of extreme RLS. Managed to bruise the side of my knee when my leg jumped so hard it hit the loo - yup, midway through (you can make up the rest).

I have been through the lot twice and three times over - like the rest Ropinirole seemed to work for a few weeks but it may have been coincidental. I scour this site and try many of the suggestions - nope, nothing. Recently I persuaded my doc with the support of the surgery pharmacist (and the Mayo report) to try morphine based meds - I was so hopeful!!! Made no difference. The only med that seems to work sometimes is diazepam (10mg) but the limit here is a 4 weeks supply due to the addiction issue- which I have never had, ever.

All I know is I will never take Venlafaxine again- it has severely damaged my relationship with my step daughter and her support (a two way one) will never be the beautiful thing it used to be. I probably sound angry but I’m not. Just so very sad.

Thanks for all you do

Alex

[SueJohnson in reply to Strike26]

You are obviously augmenting. The signs of augmentation are when you have to keep increasing your dose to get relief, or when your symptoms occur earlier in the day or there is a shorter period of rest or inactivity before symptoms start or when they move to other parts of your body (arms, trunk or face) or when the intensity of your symptoms worsen. And you are taking 1 and a half times the maximum dosage. You need to come off it. Ropinirole is no longer the first-line treatment for RLS, gabapentin or pregabalin is. It used to be the first-line treatment which is why so many doctors prescribed it but they are not uptodate on the current treatment recommendations. Also have you had your ferritin checked? If it is below 100 improving it to 100 or more helps 60% of patients and in some will completely eliminate their symptoms. If you haven't had your ferritin checked, ask your doctor for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100 and your transferrin saturation to be between 20 and 45. If your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20 and 45 post back here and we can give you some advice. To come off ropinirole, reduce by .25 mg every 2 weeks or so. You will have increased symptoms. You may need to reduce more slowly or with a smaller amount. Wait until the increased symptoms from each reduction has settled before going to the next one. You will suffer and may need a low dose opioid temporarily to help out with the symptoms especially as you near the end. But in the long run, you will be glad you came off it. On the gabapentin, beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin (75 mg pregabalin). Start it 3 weeks before you are off ropinirole although it won't be fully effective until you are off it for several weeks. After that increase it by 100 mg (25 mg pregabalin) every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Take it 1-2 hours before bedtime. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. (You don't need to divide the doses on pregabalin) Most of the side effects of gabapentin or pregabalin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin (200 to 300 mg of pregabalin) daily." If you take magnesium take it at least 3 hours before taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of the gabapentin. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it as yours obviously isn't or s/he would never have prescribed a dopamine agonist at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[SueJohnson in reply to Strike26]

Some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium, foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, estrogen, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise. Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga.

Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute. Diazepine is safe and that is a shame you can't get a longer supply.

[Bazer-Sci]

Hi, yes all the SSRIs and NSRIs do. Mine was so bad when on VENLAFAXINE I was falling out of bed and had to sleep on the floor. I did find use of a tens machine on my calf muscles before going to bed helped. I found out I was allergic to Venlafaxine and had to come off quickly, but did not find it a problem. I think it all depends on the individual. Now on a different SSRI and controlling the legs most of the time with 2 x 30/500mg before bed.I hope this is useful

Barry