Over the counter meds?????

My doctor is reluctant to put me ob any meds for my rls Does anyone know of any over the counter meds that has worked for them? I stay away from the pain meds that have caffine i take ibuprofen but dosnt always work is there anything else i could try? Someone told me to try co_codomol?? Any ideas??

[StevenSims]

Hi,

I really think Vitamin D3 is magic! but it needs Magnesium!

evitamind.com/2011/taking-m...

All the best

Steve

[nightdancer in reply to StevenSims]

It depends on how severe your RLS is. We all react differently, and Vit D3 needs a lot more studies, with the magnesium. There are several levels of RLS severity. Vit D and mag do nothing for my RLS at all.

[nightdancer]

I ahve to ask why your doctor is "reluctant" to put you on any meds. Does he really understand RLS? Not sure how sever your case is, but your in the ULK, so you can buy codeine over the counter/"co_codomol". so, you are lucky in that respect, since it is an opiate, which can really help with RLS for a lot of people. As far as anything else over the counter, you said you do not take meds with caffeine. Also, you shouldn't go for most over the counter sleep meds with the ingredient Diphenhydramine in it (antihistamine like Benedryl) That is high on the list of ingredients that are probable to exacerbate RLS.

Now, can I say I wold be looking for another doctor, depending on how much you are suffering right now. You need a doctor who understands it, since it is progressive, and tends to gte worse as we

get older. So getting a jump on that is really important.a couple fo herabals that may help are

are Valerien Root, which helps promote sleep, and Kava, which is like a kind of herbal valium, for lack of a better description. my sister, who is a nurse and has RLS, uses that only , and it helps her. Hers is not as bad as the rest fo he family, but she is getting close.

any of the "leg cramp" medications will not help RLS 99% of the time. It is for leg cramps.

Oh, and taking magnesium is highly recommended. Of course, I have no idea about all of the OTC meds in the UK, but do know from several friends there who have rLS generally what there is. Not sure if kava is available over there across the pond, and if you have any liver issues, then you ahve to talk to your doctor, not knowing your history very well yet. :o)

[chrissyD in reply to nightdancer]

Dear nightdancer. I am so grateful to you for posting this message...you don't know how relieved i am to discover that the constant burning sensation i've been experiencing for several months is a further symptom of restless leg syndrome. I only discovered I had something with a clinical name (RLS) some months ago - several members of my family suffer from "jumpy legs", as we know it, and wasn't aware it was progressive or could manifest itself in different ways (i.e. jumpy legs to burning sensation). Prior to discovering this website ten minutes ago, I'd visited other websites and could feel myself sinking further into a depressive state after reading the great long list of illnesses and diseases to which burning sensation in the lower leg could be attributed! You seem very knowlegeable about RLS (medical professional?) and I wonder whether you'd know if I'm able to take the OTC meds you've mentioned above with beta blockers (1.25mg) - recently diagnosed with atrial fibrilation; however not convinced it is unrelated to the barrage of symptoms am experiencing (12 months since last menstrual cycle) with menopause (I am 51 years)? Incidentally, I visited GP today and she said the burning sensation in lower legs were related to inactivity (had laporoscopic(?) surgery three weeks ago - as is the case with perplexed doctor, I dont think she is familiar with RLS and didn't ask me if I suffered from this) especially as I had already presented with the condition two months prior to the surgery and she attributed it to menopause. I have had many tests and been back and forward to my GP with various "women's" complaints and don't feel I can visit her again about this (she does not suffer fools, and probably feels she's spent more than enough of her patients' annual budget on me already!!). Thank-you again for taking the time to respond...you've made an old woman happy!!

[nightdancer in reply to chrissyD]

HI, I was away for a couple of days. :o) NO, I am not am medical professional at all. But, I have been on disability for years, so started and took over several online support groups for RLs and sleep disorders. I keep up with every piece of news, every rLs web site. It is basically what I do, plus I have had RLS since I was 14 and broke my back. I have several medical advisors in my groups, that usually stay in the background, but make sure that I am steering people right. By now, I do not have to sak them any questions. I can say for certain, if there is one thing I know about , it is RLS, plus I did study nursing and have worked for the Coalition on Aging. I have spent half my life in hospitals or doctor's offices, so I do a lot 0of research on a lot of things that have to do with pain. My RLS is very severe, so I am not giving up any time soon! :o)

Hi, my real name is Donna, so welcome, and I am glad you feel a bit better by findig us here. :o)

[Cntrybabe in reply to nightdancer]

I dont have insura ncer right now a nd just ran out of my gabbapentin. Does anyone know of something i can take OTC that will help with RLS?

[Dixiepride in reply to nightdancer]

Moondancer! Thank you my rls is so bad my Dr won't listen to me and I'm looking for other things to try. I'm at my wit's end with with this, Thanks

[Hidden]

Co-codamol might help, depends on how severe your RLS is, i would give it a try, but you really need to see a doc\tor who will treat you and give you something for your RLS.

Ibuprofen by its self i cant see will help unless its just mild RLS. I sometimes if my RLS doesnt settle even tho i am using the patch take 2 paracetamol and one 400mg ibuprofen late at night, i dont know if they really work or its the placebo effect, but i take them anyway.

They are the only pain killers i can tolerate, otherwise i would occassionally use co-codamol. We can get Valerien root here as i have tried that in the past, but dont think we can get Kava, i think its banned..

[jumpylegs]

In the UK over the counter co-codamol usually contains 8mg codeine and 500mg paracaetamol. Worth giving a try but 2 pills might not be enough codeine and to take any more pills means you are taking an awful lot of paracaetamol.

I would be printing out something like the Mayo Clinic Algorithm for Restless Legs (google it) and taking it to the GP. I am fortunate in that my GP is willing to use it as a guideline for treatment.

[Hidden]

I think i do have pretty bad rls its seriously disrupting my life and my mental state. Ive had it since i was 15 im 28 now and its alot worse now. Had a really tough couple of months with depression and lack of sleep all because of rls. Ive sturggled with depression for years now and when i have an rls attack it just makes it all worse. I have lost count of the amount of docters i have seen. The doc i got at the moment like alot of others has limited knowledge on rls and the meds givin for it. I think shes willing to help she listens and takes it all in which is the most ive ever got. She does her own reserch on it. Shes learning about it as we go along i think. Which is something. I think she dosnt want to give me any meds untill she knows a bit more about them. Im desperate though so i will be going bk on monday. And try cocodomol in the mean ti me. I will also look into magnesium and the valerian root . Thankyou for all your help guys

[Angierob]

Hi, so sorry you're having such an awful time. A couple of tips which might help - try to avoid sugar, salt and alcohol after 7pm, they all make the symptoms worse. Plus, ask your GP to check your ferritin levels - this is something to do with the iron in your brain I think - but, as RLS sufferers, we need to have levels of 50-100, much higher than the average person. I've heard that Vitamin B complex can help, as can Vitamin D. I can also recommend having a look at this site: bb.rls.org/index.php - it's another discussion board much like this one, but there are some really helpful links on there, including links to documents which are helpful both to patients and doctors. I was in absolute despair with both RLS and periodic limb movement disorder but, having been to the doctor and suggested to him that I take Ropinirole, my life has changed considerably. I don't like taking such a strong drug but, if it means I sleep at night, it's so worth it!

Angie

[nightdancer]

Requp is not as strong a drug as some of them are. Mirapex is stronger, hence he smaller dose.