What medications are known to start off/aggravate RSL?

[beardedtwitch]

[nightdancer]

Good Morning! Oh, there are lots of meds that can set off or aggravate RLS. For over the counter meds it is mostly the sleep and allergy meds that contain Diphenhydramine. Plus, the pseudoephedrine in allergy meds will most likely aggravate you. Prescription meds are the SSRI antidepresants and the tricyclic anti-d's. SSRI would be, for example Prozac or Paxil. The absolute worst tricyclic is Amitryptilene(brand name Elavil) For a really complete list of Drugs and Foods to avoid" go to rls.help.org and click o the treatment page. This is a wonderful web site run by an RLS specialist. You can also write to him and ask him any question and he will answer within 24 to 48 hrs. So many this can set off RLS, and lots of doctors need to read that list, too. :o)

[BobM in reply to nightdancer]

Brilliant post Nightdancer! That is a massive help to me

Kindest

Bob M

[need2move in reply to nightdancer]

yep my rls was triggered by ssri,s. paroxatine is the culprit.if only id have known...

[nightdancer]

that is rlshelp.org oops

[beardedtwitch]

Thanks nightdancer I have looked at rlshelp.org and will study it in detail when I don't feel so tired as it looks very helpful.

[jumpylegs]

And just to show that we are all different.

I suffer from fibromyalgia and this along with the RLS has caused me dreadful sleep issues for several years. it didn't help my sleep that I also had another issue which required 18 months on a high dose of steroid. I had already tried melatonin, zolpidem and zopiclone for sleep. My medications for rls are requip and tramadol.

My GP on several occasions suggested that I try amitryptiline as a sleep aid and I repeatedly absolutely refused to do so in case it would make my rls worse. It is already 24/7 and I am a suffer for 30+ yars. . Eventually my sleep was so poor that he and I came to a deal. I would try the amitryptiline and if it worked for sleep and if there were any increase in rls symptoms he would work with me as a matter of urgency to deal with the increased rls symptoms.

I take 20mg amitryptiline nightly and it has proved to be brilliant. I sleep so much better, almost normal. My sleep pattern is now about 7 hours with one awakening, compared to 3 - 4 hours in one hour snatches (on a good night). I am not aware of any increase in my rls symptoms.

[beardedtwitch]

Thanks jumpylegs but does it make you sleepy in the day and what are the side effects?

[magggzzz in reply to beardedtwitch]

I think that daytime drowsiness is just the cross we have to bear. I've been reading this site for quite a long time now and it does seem to be a common thread. Sad but true.

[Kaarina Administrator]

I took took amitriptyline - 25mg - for IBS D, for one year as suggested by the gastro - it "cured" the IBS D more or less and I did sleep much better too, which was an added bonus. It did not make my RLS any worse. I felt a ilttle whoosy on awakening but that feeling went during the morning. I used to take the ami, around 7.00 pm and went to bed 11.00pm or later. This arrangement suited me. Just shows how taking drugs varies from person to person.

Kaarina

[beardedtwitch]

Thanks everyone but tell me is the daytime drowsiness better than the effects of RLS sleep loss?

[Hidden]

You are all a huge help to me and I thank each one of you for responding to questions on this site! It has helped me enourmously and in fact has changed my life during these last few months.---It has been especially helpful to be in contact with rlshelp.org as well. I wrote to them for help when my doctor refused to change my medication, which was driving me crazy.

I got a quick reply ( sooo helpful!), printed it out, and brought my daughter along to the next dr. visit. That worked!----Since then, I have bought two books from

Amazon.ca written by 3 doctors specializing in RLS (same web site). One of the books is a clinical version, written for doctors!, and the other is called " The Restless Leg Syndrome".

[nightdancer]

I highly recommend both of the books mentioned above. The Clinical version helps me the most with my doctors, and it gives a lot more information, written by RLS specialists.

[jumpinjack]

I took Tamsulosin for three years at the cessation of which RLS became apparent. Prescribed Ropinorole and was surprised at the similarity in side effects with swollen synuses, headaches,pain in throat and drowsiness. Did both of those drugs have the same effecton my veinous system? Not according to my GP, but I'm not happy, not just with his lack of knowledge, but his inability to steer me towards someone who has.

[Hidden]

i am going threw the worst couple of weeks of my life at the moment. ii recently came of clomiparmine an antideppressant because it wasnt working for me anymore and said i would give an ssri a go asgian hadnt been on them for years. docter gave me fluoxitine which i took for only 3 weeks and it has triggered my rls like crazy. i have had this since iwas 15 i am 28 now its always been bad but the last 3 weeks have been hell., last sunday i took myslef off the fluoxitine i was only on a small dose so apparantly that was ok to do. its nearly been a week off of them and its still as bad as it was. i am loosing so much sleep its driving me crazy....... in my experiance prozax deffinatly without any dought brings rls on..