Duloxetine - restless legs

[Chamie]

Hi, I am on Duloxetine 60 mg and Trazadone 100 mg.

Since going on the Duloxetine my RLS seems to be worse. I don’t really want to give it up right now as I have only been on it 3 weeks and since I have tried several anti-depressants I want to give this one a fair go.

The Trazadone helps me sleep a bit but the Restless legs kick in. Probably don’t get to sleep until 3:00 or so.

Any suggestions?

[ChrisColumbus]

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately duloxetine (Cymbalta) is known to make RLS worse for many.

Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and trazodone (Molipaxin, Desyrel, Oleptro) are generally regarded as RLS safe antidepressants although some users of both still report problems - although there are many other medications and factors that can trigger or exacerbate RLS and make it difficult to determine the actual cause.

To make it easier for us to give more help here, it would be helpful if you could put more information in your Profile as per this Pinned Post:

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

I was looking on the NHS medicines website to check various other antidepressants. If one is not listed on that website does that mean you can't get it in the UK?

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

I wouldn't guarantee that the NHS list is necessarily complete: I use the British National Formulary if I want to do a quick check, but not sure whether you can access that?

bnf.nice.org.uk/

(I know that you know that we usually use the generic rather than brand name )

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Unfortunately I can't access it.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

If you want to Chat me a list to check I'll happily have a look (although I might go offline for the rest of this evening before my wife throws something at me!)

[SueJohnson]

Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of help, support and understanding here.

What country do you live in? It would really help if you indicate your gender and your country on your profile. In addition see the pinned post on filling out your profile.

Yes Duloxetine is known to make RLS worse for most. You may not be taking enough trazodone as it is recommended for an antidepressant for RLS. If your live in the US you could ask for Wellbutrin which is the best one.If you live in the UK you may or may not be able to get wellbutrin.

[Chamie in reply to SueJohnson]

I have updated my profile.

[SueJohnson in reply to Chamie]

Thank you. You could ask for Wellbutrin then

[Plight]

I take both of these. Definitely going to talk to my doctor Wed

[PoorRichard]

It was shortly after I started on Duloxetine that my RLS progressed from undiagnosed & mild to severe & debilitating. It was a game changer in a bad way, although, ironically, it led me to this forum and radically changing my lifestyle, which improved everything! I'm immensely grateful.

[Chamie in reply to PoorRichard]

What did you do, did you go off of it?

[PoorRichard in reply to Chamie]

Yes. I was on a low dose to treat idiopathic GI issues. For that it was very effective. However within a month of treatment my RLS went into overdrive.

[Milee]

Hi I have only just started taking Duloxtine 5 weeks. I’m on 20mg I believe is the lowest doze. I’ve noticed a 50% improvement for me. The side effect I feel very sickly I’m hoping this will improve. I take Topomax for Chronic migraines all other medication I was taking has been with drawn which was horrendous but I’m coping now.