sertraline

[NonnieJ]

I have been taking 100mg of Sertraline for many years for anxiety.

Every year at some point I have to increase to 150mg as my anxiety is so extreme. I am in touch with a friend who is a retired Consultant Psychiatrist and he recommends I go back to my G.P and ask to go on a different class of antidepressants, not SSRI's.

He gave me this advice some weeks ago but I am scared to change my medication in case it affects my RLS..... Sertraline doesn't affect it too much, if at all. (I take Clonazepam for my RLS which helps a lot but doesn't control it totally.)

Can someone advise me of non SSRI's that are the least likely to increase my RLS?

I am in the Uk.

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

[SueJohnson]

Sertraline makes RLS worse for many. Ask for trazodone which is safe and helps anxiety, depression and insomnia.

[NonnieJ in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue.

[Retiredlady in reply to SueJohnson]

For those of us on this forum who take Buprenorphine but still suffer from anxiety, is it safe to take Trazodone as well?

[SueJohnson in reply to Retiredlady]

Taking buprenorphine and trazodone together may increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm although this is a rare side effect1. Additionally, both medications can cause central nervous system depression, leading to side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. You are best to ask your doctor.

[Eryl]

Your RLS and anxiety could well be caused by the same thing and the medications merely target damping down the symptoms rather than addressing the cause. Cronic inflammation can cause the nerves in the legs to send out signals which are peceived as RLS while inflammation in the nerves of the brain can lead to anxiety, depression schizophrenia or other condition. This inflammation is often caused by foods in the diet like highly refined carbs , refined seed oils mould infection or in rare cases heavy metal toxicity. youtu.be/ws_AlyJNo2I?si=ln-...(Not working as expected?)

[NonnieJ in reply to Eryl]

Thank you, Eryl. Things are complicated for me as I can't absorb iron. This is another factor. I need an infusion but am unable to get one.

Even my Clonazepam seems to be starting to fail me.

It has helped enormously in the last 8 years.

I am careful what I eat, particularly in the evening.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Eryl in reply to NonnieJ]

Inflammation depletes your iron levels so you may be absorbing it normaly but that it is being used up faser than it can be absorbed. youtu.be/DbQeaivmgb4?si=AFL...(Not working as expected?)

[NonnieJ in reply to Eryl]

Thank you. My problem with inability to absorb iron was discovered 50 years ago, it pre-dated by far any painful conditions or anxiety.

I have had three infusions in recent years, one when my ferritin was a mere 7. I have tried "Gentle iron" but it didn't up my levels.

I honestly appreciate your replies and am not disregarding them.

I have read your profile info and I can see you have struggled with many conditions and have gained a lot of information and experience along the way.

I will try and get a GP appointment ASAP and persuade them to lift the ban on "only one problem to be discussed at one appointment ".

Many thanks again

Nonnie.

[SueJohnson in reply to NonnieJ]

You can get an infusion privately by paying for it, but it costs around £800.

[NonnieJ in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes I have heard that but I had to spend thousands of pounds last year on a New Year.

When my Ferritin was down to 7 I was given an infusion , also when I had previous surgery I needed an infusion first. I did manage to get another one, but not for a long time.

I need to get together the Mayo clinic info.

Thanks again Sue.

[amrgadah]

I have something that couldn’t be diagnosed. One of the suggestions was a rare modality of RLS . I received different types of medications. Clonazepam , was one of them,I reached a dose of 4 mg/day , which is a very high dose as neurologist say . I was going better for a while , then no effect. At end I stopped all medications . I only take tramadol when I have severe pain + cipralex 20 mg/ day for depression.

[NonnieJ in reply to amrgadah]

Are you sure it's 4 mg of Clonazepam? I take 1.25 mcg. Do you mean 4 mcg?

It's still a lot.

[amrgadah in reply to NonnieJ]

I started by 1mg , then dose increased to 4mg. Now I stopped all medicines.