having been afflicted with RLS for over 15 yrs and I can tell you that medical specialists of all categories and so many Doctors have changed medications and confused me and themselves totally,you name it I’ve had it over many many years and on lots of occasions have been reverted to the same treatments from many years past , I have as I’m sure so many of us have hunted and read so many articles and posts from fellow sufferers until we can’t really put together a light in the tunnel, I have however for the last 3 weeks been taking 2 tablets at night (9 o’clock approximately) of Health Essent Dopamine Balance 1400 mg complex (as says on the container of 60 ) I have noticed a great improvement in my RLS although not gone but my goodness it’s becoming tolerable a great improvement, this medication is not prescribed by my GP and personally I don’t care it’s helping me,will inform him on my next visit in a fortnight ,this may or not be helpful for others but my condition is chronic and I’ll take any light in any tunnel, Jack.
I
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Maxineis4
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Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of help, support and understanding here.
Yes that supplement contains ingredients that can help RLS but as you said it does not control your RLS completely which of course is what you want.
What have you tried previously?
Have you had your ferritin checked? If so, what was it? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. If not when you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice.
Some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium(salt), foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, , dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, eating late at night, stress and vigorous exercise. It is a good idea to keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse.
Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, CBD, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, vibration devices like therapulse, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga.
Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute. I have a list of more than 300 medicines and OTC supplements that make RLS worse and have safe alternatives for most of them.
Some people have reported that L-Tyrosine or L-Theanine has helped them. And quite a few - me included- have found magnesium citrate helpful.
But I also found that while such things can help, they do not eliminate RLS entirely (particularly if one has augmented on a dopamine agonist - pramipexole, ropinirole or rotigotine).
I have eliminated RLS symptoms 99.9% of the time (having been lucky enough never to have accepted medication for RLS) by avoiding triggering medications, reducing sugar and caffeine in my diet (although some find caffeine helps) and by avoiding artificial sweeteners (particularly aspartame).
So follow the advice from Sue and Jools and good luck!
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