With 64 Ounces of Water/Day, RLS Meds Work Consistently

[Budreaux]

My meds have helped my RLS enough for me get to sleep sometimes, and others, not at all. (I'm currently taking Gabapentin and pramipexole, and hope to get off the pramipexole soon.)

I recently discovered that drinking enough water throughout the day has had a huge influence in reducing my RLS symptoms. "Enough" means from 56 to 64 ounces or more.

I had previously tried drinking more water in the evening, as my wife's friend recommended, with no success. But when I drank water throughout the day, it made a huge difference. It worked every night over the past four weeks, except two nights when I forgot to drink enough water.

(Turns out I have been chronically dehydrated for my entire life. Hmmm, no wonder I always had bronchitis during the winter as a kid.)

I highly recommend it. And if it doesn't help, it certainly won't hurt, given that it supports the body's natural processes. (So many physical problems turn out to be water soluble.)

[Madlegs1]

Thanks.

Challenge is to drink enough earlier in the day and not top up in the evening, when the prostate dictates multiple nocturnal loo visits!😝

[Boldgirl45]

Interesting - we have recently given my elderly mum daily electrolyte powder (if you are dehydrated you will naturally be deficient in this). It's like she's come back to life!! I'm just now texting my Dad to ask him to get her to report back on her restless legs (a problem for her esp with the DAs, but there's a myriad of other issues too that tend to get more focus).

[Boldgirl45 in reply to Boldgirl45]

Sorry the point I meant to say here is that I'm wondering if she's been dehydrated for a long time too.

[ChrisColumbus]

Good for you! This balancing act between drinking enough throughout the day and not spending the night in the loo tasks many of us! While my RLS is pretty much under control I had a brief flirtation with gout in 2023 due to dehydration, and having spent much of yesterday out and not drinking enough I had painful cramps last night. Must drink more (water!)

[DicCarlson]

Popular book here "You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty"...

amazon.com/Water-Health-Hea...

[TonyLewry]

I only wish that your solution would work for me. Unfortunately I have kidney failure and am on dialysis. My fluid intake is restricted to less than 1ltr a day, including fluid in my food.

[Purpleyam]

Thats a smart observation. I learned that I need an electrolyte in my water first thing in the morning. If we get dehydrated it does make RLS worse.