Question re Sertraline.

[ikc42]

Hi,

Question re Sertraline.

My wife has suffered from RLS since she was a teen (currently in her 70s) and went through the Mirapexin augmentation horrors a few years ago. It was through the advice and help of this group that she learned of the dangers of Mirapexin and through your help and support that she found the strength to succeed in withdrawing - for which help we are eternally grateful. She has been free of Mirapexin for about 2 years now.

She is super aware of “triggers” and in this regard would like your advice on the antidepressant “Sertraline” which she has been taking for about 6 years (now on 50mg). Is this considered an RLS trigger? If so are there alternative antidepressants that you would recommend? If she is changing from Sertraline to an alternative does she have to withdraw from Sertraline gradually?

Many thanks in advance. Our love and thoughts go to you all in your various struggles.

P

[SueJohnson]

Yes it makes RLS worse for many. A safe anti-depressant is trazodone (if you are in the US there is also wellbutrin). Normally she would need to wean off it but ask your doctor whether it is necessary if switching to trazodone.

[ikc42 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue - we’ll do that