Alcohol withdrawal and RLS.

[Dires]

I am currently controlling my RLS with Pregabalin. This post is a question about my son. He had experienced RLS in the evening only for a couple of years. He has been a evening drinker of alcohol (every evening).

A few weeks again he decided that he was drinking too much and completely stopped the alcohol. Within a few days he started to suffer with severe nightly RLS badly affecting his sleep.

As alcohol affects dopamine levels, initially raising but then depleting levels, could the withdrawal of alcohol be related to the sudden worsening of RLS symptoms?

[Madlegs1]

Restlessness is a fundamental part of any withdrawal process. Alcohol, tobacco or women😥

Depending on how long he was on alcohol, the withdrawals will take enough time for the body to reset itself.

Codeine can help mask some of the symptoms, but with alcohol it is more difficult, because it is so dangerous to go back for the "hair of the dog". Which would be possible with medications.

He is in for a tough ride, and it is good that he has you and hopefully everyone around him, to support him in this period.

He will get through it

Most governments have programmes designed to help addicts, I'm sure there is such in the UK. Check the NHS.

All the very best.💚

[Dires in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you both. He doesn’t have any other withdrawal symptoms at all apart from the worsening restless legs. He was really pleased that he actually felt so well after stopping until the legs ‘kicked in’

Thank you Jools for your advice too. I have told him to get his bloods checked and will advise him on the iron etc.

[Joolsg]

Yes. As you say alcohol causes 'pleasure' and releases dopamine. Dopamine settles RLS. And alcohol withdrawal also causes restlessness.He can get blood tests to check iron levels and ensure serum ferritin is above 200ųg via ferrous bisglycinate pills every OTHER night.

Try magnesium citrate every night.

Take hot baths and use a massage gun.

Eat a 'dopamine' diet.

It will settle after around 6 weeks.

As Madlegs suggests- the occasional codeine or solpadeine max will help.

[Dires in reply to Joolsg]

I suppose my question is, has the alcohol withdrawal triggered the RLS which he already had a propensity for OR is the RLS a result of alcohol withdrawal and therefore a drop in dopamine which will hopefully settle. Maybe there is no answer?

Should he take Pregabalin at this stage or just the Codeine as suggested?

[Joolsg in reply to Dires]

I think both. The loss of pleasure/dopamine AND withdrawal from alcohol.Pregabalin takes at least 3 weeks to take effect so occasional codeine is a better option. I think it will settle over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

[Dires in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you so much Jools for your rapid reply.

[SueJohnson in reply to Dires]

Was he not taking anything for his RLS?

[Dires in reply to SueJohnson]

No Sue, it just bothered him a bit in the evening.

[DicCarlson]

First off - good for him to quit the booze. Don't think that going back will help his RLS - stay the course! Most younger people (under 60) invariably have poor iron stores or absorption as a big contributor to RLS.

[PeterCH]

This may be of interest/use…I started Pregabalin 2 weeks ago (after a disaster in with Ropinirole!) and also read about sulfites in wine and RLS so tried this Hotder Wine Aerator, Acrylic Red... amazon.co.uk/dp/B009YHROJK?...

My RLS has improved…whether it is either or both I don't know.

[Dires in reply to PeterCH]

Thank you. He doesn’t drink wine. He drank mainly beer