Diltiazem-NO Losartan-NO Clonidine-YES

[2islandboy]

Thank you Sue!! I have been on blood pressure meds Diltiazem 360mg and Losartan 25mg for a decade. I had two Iron Infusions two years ago at the Harvard Sleep Center (great results), but lately, my RLS has returned and I have been taking 2400mg of Gabapentin, 600mg at 2 hour intervals, 75mg Iron Bisglycinate with C . Still having breakthrough RLS, also in my arms and chest. Reading through Sue's suggested BP meds, I recently switched from Diltiazem and Losartan to Clonidine 0.2mg. WOW!!!! No RLS, I have dropped to 1800mg of Gabapentin and will experiment with lower doses. Sue has suggested that Diltiazem and Losartan may contribute to RLS for some people. Clonidine, for some people actually helps RLS. I am a happy camper!

[Joolsg]

👍Well done SueJohnson and hope you continue to be RLS free.

[2islandboy]

FYI, Sue's post about safe RLS BP meds:

"Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers can make RLS worse.

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. Discuss these with your doctor including side effects. And then there is reducing salt by 1 teaspoon a day nih.gov/news-events/nih-res...."

[SueJohnson]

That's great! So pleased for you.

[ChrisColumbus]

This is great news. Diltiazem (Cardizem etc) as a calcium channel blocker is fairly likely to trigger RLS. As Sue infers Losartan (Cozaar etc) - an angiotensin II receptor antagonist - isn't an RLS trigger for all, and some reports that it is may not have eliminated other possible triggers that are also being taken. I've been on it for 3 years - initially 25mg then 50mg - and having eliminated statins etc and various dietary triggers have no RLS symptoms while taking NO RLS medications. But we're all different, so pleased Clonidine works for you!

[Oscarcat63]

I couldn't live without my clonidine !Brilliant stuff.

Glad it is helping you