Hi all
I have noticed this for a while, but thought I must be wrong. If I am having trouble sleeping during the night due to my spasms and RLS symptoms, sometimes I have made myself a cup of coffee and after a while I will fall asleep ??????????
Its kind of a contradiction to what I read on google, so I was just wondering if anyone else as noticed this or if its just a coincidence ?
Not personally, but yes - others have reported that caffeine helps rather than hinders
Oh really that is interesting, I will wait and see what other say
Yes coffee is strange. For some it makes RLS worse but for some it helps RLS. You are obviously one of the latter.
My phone appointment is at the end of the month to discuss the Iron Table, I got the date wrong. I have started to take the medication carbamapine, at a lower dose than prescribed (200 mg's per day) I am taking 100 mg , due to my intolerance to most meds. Have been taking it for less than a week so not sure yet if I am having any benefits, however I am so tired and sleeping for nearly 12 hours per day. Will let the group know if the meds turn out to be beneficial.
Coffee definitely helps some people.
As far as I know the coffee causing or triggering RLS is a myth .
Mainly because coffee does cause insomnia. And therefore caught up in the whole sleeplessness issue.
I'll try to find the research paper that started this .
healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...
This is from *21.
Coffee blocks adenosine, a neuro transmitter that is implicated in RLS ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....
It is thought that this is why it is helpful for some sufferers. Incidentally, decaffeinated coffee seems to be as effective (for me at least) in dealing with mild symptoms and seems to have less of an adverse impact on sleep.
Involuntarydancer gave you a link to a relevant study. Since, I have occasionally taken a coffee at night when I had (breakthrough) RLS and for me it seemed to help settle the RLS. As my RLS is well controlled since 3.5y by a low dose buprenorphine, I never need the coffee at night solution any more. However, for many people it is a trigger. Never for me.
The Restless Legs Foundation lists caffeine and coffee as a trigger. And healthline.com/health/restl... says caffeine can stimulate your nerves and make RLS worse. And the Mayo algorithm also says caffeine may be a problem so I don't think it is just a myth. Obviously it doesn't cause RLS. And just as obviously it helps RLS symptoms in many.
I too find coffee helps to calm down the RLS!
I am one of “those” people!
I keep Proplus (caffeine) tablets by my bed and take one if I can’t settle with stretching during my usual single wakeup (less fuss than putting the kettle on!)
I think we all handle coffee/caffeine differently. Even before RLS was a problem for me I could have a late night coffee and not worry about sleeping.
Long may it be helpful!
I too find caffeine seems to help with my day and night RLS! Strange thing. Interesting what Sue says about it.
This could be because some coffees contain anti oxidants and oxidative stress is one cause of inflammation. Other drinks which have a similar effect are green tea and chamomile tea. I have eliminated my RLS by concentrating on not eating inflammatory foods and adding in anti inflammatory vitamins and anti oxidative foods.
Coffee certainly doesn't cause RLS.
For many years I have noted that during the hours of 7 - 9pm when I often get unpleasant RLS breakthroughs a mug of tea and chocolate biscuit will kick the symptoms into touch. Don’t know why - just does! Phew!
Hi very interesting as I have often wondered if inflammation is the cause of my symptoms. Can you give me some more information of the vitamins and perhaps some of the best foods.
The most important thing is not to cause inflammation in the first place. You can google 'fiods that cause inflammation' but ignore the red meat suggestion as I and may others have found that it's false. Most Vitamins have anti inflmmatory propeties so a general multi vitamin supplement can have an effect especially if you have been eating a low nutrient diet (processed food) for a long time. The only fruit I eat is blueberries which do not contain excessive amounts of sugar, have a lot of protective fibre and contain anti oxidants. In the evening the only thing I drink is green tea or chamomile tea. It's also important to excersise regularly (at least a half hour walk every day if you have a very static job) and try to reduce your stress levels as stress can cause low level inflammation. youtu.be/2-2CheWxDlY?si=NmE...
I am envious of all of you. Even before I suffered RLS chronically, and even had a name for it, I thought I was allergic to caffeine. Every time I had even the slightest bit my legs would have a strange feeling. So I stayed away from it most of my life. Years later when I got more informed, it all made sense. And I have friend with RLS who also suffers greatly after caffeine.
Investing, isn’t it? People’s experiences vary so much.
Yes it is. I am suffering so much with symptoms now because its hot over here, I cannot tolerate weather that is too hot or too cold.
I had read coffee releases dopamine. Coffee doesn't hurt me either.
I find the same result with tea during the night
I take one cup of coffee mid morning and this helps to wake me for the day. The caffeine will have been flushed out of my system by the evening. It does not seem to make my symptoms any worse. However, if I have a cup of tea in the afternoon then my symptoms can often flare up again. So I normally take green tea with ginger in the afternoon.
It certainly helps me!! Do what works best for you 😀
YES!! I made that discovery too. I was trying to find out why. I thought maybe it was because coffee makes you alkaline. I now drink alkaline water before bed. It helps but the coffee is a sure way to relieve RLS. I read also that there are studies done with Parkinson's patients and they discovered coffee works for them as well. Not sure if you are aware, but the medications they give for RLS is the same as Parkinson's. However, I would never take a prescription drug.
Coffee helps my mild restlessness but not a full blown RLS attack. If I wake up too early and have a cup of coffee ( with or without caffeine) it helps me get back to sleep. It also helps in the evening.
I would say pretty much the same.
Newlife54,
It's not a coincidence. I have been using caffeine daily to manage my RLS for over 20 years. I usually take caffeine tablets or coffee to help me through afternoons, before my tramadol kicks in. If my RLS wakes me at night, a caffeine pill or cup of strong coffee will put me back to sleep in about an hour. I'm glad it helps you, too.
My brother also has bad RLS, and he cannot tolerate any caffeine. It drives him up the walls, he says. For me, caffeine calms my RLS by waking me up, and then I can fall asleep if I need to. Sounds strange, I know, but it works for some of us.
It is surprising that coffee is helping to control RLS, Generally alcohol and caffeine are the two things which can aggravate. My own experience leads me to buy decaffeinated coffee and to avoid alcohol after about 3 or 4 p.m.
Hi it seems it works for some and not for others. I don't drink alcohol as it aggravates my RLS, as does hot weather , sugar and too much exercise.
I am another one that drinks coffee and it calms my RLS i drink it during the day and night. But a full blown attack then coffee does nothing to help. Coffee is also supposed to be a stimulant and keep you awake not for me at night so no insomnia either and seems for others too. 😊
It all confirms that RLS is unpredictable in so many ways, so that sufferers have to find out for themselves, what works and what doesn't. I am still learning after 60 or so years.
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