Medication check

[Cobobay]

Hi everyone, I have a question for Sue and Jools as just left Doctors and wanted to check if the meds she's given me will be OK to take with RLS. I have had no choice but to go back on some tablets nd increase one, but have told her I did not want Statins again, she has given me Fenofibrate 200mg daily and also another blood pressure tablet, Amlodipine 10mg along with Bendroflumethiazide 5mg daily. I know the Bendroflumetgiazide is OK but wanted to check other 2 before I start them. I am now on 500 gabapentin at 7/8pm and 600 at 9/10pm. She has suggested I take 600 during the day afternoon and evening, I did say they are not needed during day but for some reason today she is telling me that is the doses RLS sufferers take, as its also effects daytime, I felt a little deflated after today's visit as she is usually so happy to listen. So glad we all have this group x

[SueJohnson]

Fenofibrate is OK. Amlodipine bothers some people but not all.You can try it and see.

If it is a problem some medicines that are safe for high blood pressure are propranolol (Inderal, Hemangeol, InnoPran) a beta blocker that may help RLS, Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monoket, Imdur) which is not a beta blocker nor calcium channel blocker. Other possibilities are: Clonidine (Catapres) an Alpha-2-Agonist used to treat high blood pressure which may help RLS and which also treats insomnia, tenex (Guanfacine, Intuniv), prazosin (Minipress) an alpha-adrenergic blocker that is also useful in managing sleep-related problems caused by PTSD and Tadalafil a vasodilator that in one study completely eliminated RLS. Clonidine can actually help RLS. Discuss these with your doctor. And then there is reducing salt by 1 teaspoon a day nih.gov/news-events/nih-res....

[Joolsg in reply to SueJohnson]

I agree with Sue. I was talking to Professor Toby Richards of the Iron Clinic on Monday, and he said he reviews patients for calcium channel blockers if they complain of RLS. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker so can trigger/worsen RLS.Do you get RLS in the day? If not, don't take gabapentin in the day. Take in the evening only.

[SueJohnson]

The reason she says to take gabapentin during the day is that is the way it is prescribed for nerve pain which is what it is approved for. It is used off label for RLS.