I've been prescribed this drug by my GP, and also Bisoprolol for fluid retention and high BP. I wonder if they will cause problems with my RLS. I had Furosimide some time ago, which I had to discontinue. I'm struggling to find medication for these two problems.
I know Sue that you gave me a list of others, but my GP wouldn't prescribe them.
Both diuretics (e.g. bendroflumethiazide) and beta blockers (e.g. bisoprolol) are known to exacerbate RLS in some.
I take 50mg losartan for high blood pressure and it doesn't affect my RLS, but others have reported RLS problems with this and other angiotensin receptor blockers.
However, we tend to be on so many different meds that it can be difficult to isolate which is/are really triggering RLS.
But we're all different and - depending on your readings - some medication *may* be essential.
Can't get out of this one I'm afraid, they are now essential. I shudder every time I have to try a new medication,as I'm sure we all do. Thanks for the suggestions, worth trying. I've tried more natural remedies, with no luck. Thanks for your help.
Why wouldn't the doctor prescribe them? Did he give a reason. Did you point out that you are suffering taking the beta blocker?
He said that propranolol wasn't appropriate, thats all I can remember Sue. He knows that I ve not been on anything since then. My legs are severely swollen still, and my blood pressure high too.
That is another beta blocker that will make RLS worse. Instead ask for an ace inhibitors such as Zestril (Lisinopril, Qbrelis, Prinivil) and Perindopril (Coversyl). Other possibilities are: Clonidine (Catapres) an Alpha-2-Agonist used to treat high blood pressure which may help RLS, which also treats insomnia and ADHD (not a stimulant) and may help RLS, tenex (Guanfacine, Intuniv) treats ADHD and high blood pressure, prazosin (Minipress) - alpha-adrenergic blocker that treats high blood pressure.
Thank you Sue, for giving me a comprehensive list of medications. Surely there will be something there that my GP will prescribe. I will be asking why if he doesn't, as its not helpful to give out medications that exacerbate RLS. Why a doctor can't make these connections, knowing the horrible symptoms of RLS, is beyond me. They probably only need to look in a directory of suitable meds for RLS sufferers, to find some of those you have mentioned.Onwards and upwards I hope. What would we do without this site and the knowledge of so many great members, including yourself to help us. Many thanks Sue, as always ,for your help and support.
Please excuse my jumping into this conversation. Sue, is Hydrochlorothiazide bad for RLS? I have been taking this and Enalapril for many years. Thank you in advance.
It's a diuretic and all diuretics are bad for RLS. Enalapril should be OK.
Thank you Sue! I will talk to my doctor about this. No need to be making a bad situation worse. Wishing you and all here a peaceful night tonight...
Atenolol has been suggested, which is an older drug. Have you any thoughts on this? I'll give it another try with the GP, but he was adamant about propranolol.
Thanks Sue, it's Hobsons choice by the sound of it.
Diuretics and beta blockers are an old fashioned treatment for high bp and not used by most doctors these days. I've heard that vitamin B1 defficiency can raise blood pressure, heart rate and give the appearance of fliud retention. Low B1 can also cause neuropathy which can make rls worse. Ask for the ETKAC assay protocol which will show the levels of B1 in the cells (which can be lower than in the blood) or just start taking a B1 supplment and you should know very soon if that was the problem. Low B1 can also cause low iron which could mae rls worse and it can be caused by diuretics so prescribing diuretics may actually be maikng the problem worse also low B1 car be caused by diuretics in food like regular consumption of alcohol, high consumption of coffee, tea etc. and a diet hig in processed food and carbohydrate. youtube.com/live/mG3m3tbEGU...
Thank you for your post. I'm very interested in anything that will help in a more natural way. My heart sinks when I hear yet again that my GP practice is less than up to date. It's an uphill struggle, but I'm adamant that I will try to get them to get with more. I've been on several medications for these problems, and had awful side effects , RLS symptoms included. I will ask them about the ETKAC assay protocol test, you never know, they might even have heard of it. In the meantime (it takes a month to get an appointment), I will start with B1. The doctor says my iron results are normal, my ferritin is 50, no TSAT test was done. They have never heard of brain iron. You have given me a little hope that B1 will solve the problem. I still take an iron supplement each evening, despite the test results, which has helped with my RLS symptoms, although my legs are bad during the day, but I'm reducing my DAs, which is not helping anything.
I don't eat processed foods, no alcohol, decaffeinated drinks only, but I do eat some carbohydrates (pasta). I eat little meat. Mostly vegetarian, I'm low in protein in my tests.
Thank you for your suggestion for B1. We learn as we go along on this site, a lifeline for me.
The Peter Osborne video is a real eye opener. I've never had heart problems at all. Now I'm being put onto diuretics and BP medication, which I can see .may cause a false positive.
Before this happens I will start taking B1 to see if there will be an improvement, while I'm waiting for hospital tests etc .
I liked his comment ' your GP will look at you as if you've grown horns, if you ask for an intra cellular test for B1 deficiency '. He surely will, I'm sure of that!
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