UK General Election. Campaign for better Treatment of RLS

[Joolsg]

The Neurological Alliance has set up a template to be sent to your local candidates in the upcoming General Election.

The MS Society is monitoring on behalf of the Neurological Alliance.

You can add your comments in the box provided and I've set out below some suggested comments you may like to add.

Comments

RLS affects around 7.5% of the population, yet is not taught in UK medical schools or during GP or neurological training.

NICE and NHS guidance are outdated and do not reflect the latest research and treatment of RLS.

Dopamine Agonists should no longer be first line treatment because of the very high rates of drug-induced worsening (augmentation) and Impulse Control Disorder.

GPs should be taught how to diagnose and treat RLS effectively. Iron therapy, including iron infusions should be available as first line treatment and GPs should know the extensive list of medications that actually trigger and worsen RLS, including anti depressants, sedating anti histamines, statins, beta blockers and PPI meds.

NICE guidance should recommend low dose opioids for refractory RLS, if gabapentinoids fail to control the symptoms.

The economic and health benefits of effective RLS treatment will far outweigh the initial costs of training.

campaigns.mssociety.org.uk/...

Please also share widely on social media

[ChrisColumbus]

Good idea. I decided to test it to see what it did: it picked out completely the wrong constituency from my post code; it didnt recognise a valid postcode when I tested a second time; it got it right with the third code I tried. Should I advise the MS Soc or the Neuro Alliance?

[Joolsg in reply to ChrisColumbus]

MS Society, as they are the biggest, wealthiest neurological charity with the 'resources' to help all the smaller neuro charities.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Joolsg]

Seems to have been some sort of glitch, today it seems to be OK!

[Bumble34]

Done.

[Claire_lc]

Personalised and done. Thank you Jools.

[Mulberry100]

Also personalised and done. So thankful for all you do.

[HipHop1972]

Hello Joolsg, thanks for sending the post and link through. Just completed and sent to all candidates.

Best wishes HipHop1972

[Huntingleroy]

Thanks Jools and thank you for doing it . Very easy to do

[Enery]

Done, thanks for all you do on here you have helped a great deal with med choices we've made between me and my doctor.

[Jelbea]

Hi Joolsg. Thanks for the opportunity to add my voice. I have completed the form.

[Bowie4eva]

Thanks, Jools, all done.

[VENEER]

Here here quite right in that approach, you have my full support.

[davchar23]

Dear Jools,

Completed and sent my support to prospective candidates.

Incidentally this morning i had an appointment with my GP and i mentioned a possible "Mr Bates & the PO" campaign against prescription of DAs. He responded by asking if that was against the pharmaceutical companies and I replied "yes"! I hope I have at least got one GP to change their thinking on RLS

Davchar

[Joolsg in reply to davchar23]

Oh dear, actually it's not against pharmaceutical companies, it's against GPs and neurologists..Big Pharma were sued from 2009-16 & they have warnings on all medications as a result.

So no one can sue pharmaceutical companies now.

We are suing the doctors for negligence. They refuse to learn about the disease or research the common side effects of augmentation and ICD.

Hopefully the TV programme will force the medical profession to stop prescribing dopamine agonists.

[davchar23 in reply to Joolsg]

never mind it made him think!

[Joolsg in reply to davchar23]

👍👍

[Kaarina Administrator]

Done and shared