Solution!

[MumofBella]

A full page article in the Daily Mail today was an interesting read. The author gave an account of how RLS affects her and it exactly matches my experiences. She detailed how she’d read a piece by Prof. Guy Leschziner, an anaesthetist specialising in movement disorders, which suggested that codeine is the best drug to use against RLS. Apparently drugs that are called dopamine agonists are now going out of fashion but iron in the brain is still deemed important. Codeine did help me a bit but I really think doctors need to make their minds up which drug(s) are best and they should ensure all their colleagues are made to bring themselves up to date regarding RLS.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Unfortunately if we do not buy the paper or subscribe to the DM online we are unable to access this article. Not today anyway. Would be great if anyone who has a link to this article would post it so those interested could have a read.

[MumofBella in reply to Kaarina]

I tried to find this online but no luck as I don’t subscribe to the online version. It was interesting for me as the author described walking around her bedroom for hours at night - same as me! She said she’s left it all behind her now and no longer needs any drugs, she’s one lucky person then. Does that happen to anyone?

[Rameau in reply to Kaarina]

Links to a copy made yesterday: web.archive.org/web/2024120...

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Rameau]

Thank you so much Rameau. How kind of you. I am most grateful.

[Biscuitface in reply to Rameau]

Excellent article. Happy for the writer that her RLS has disappeared.

[Madlegs1]

Opioids or morphine like substances have been the gold standard of treatment for RLS for 300 years.

But you must give the modern medical education system time to catch up with the latest scientific advances.

It's a wonder that anaesthetics and antibiotics have made it into the curriculum! Let alone be accepted as possible aids for any illnesses.

I'll stop now before I'm chucked out.

I'll close the door on my way out !😝

[Joolsg]

RLS-UK makes it clear in the website that it doesn't support dopamine agonists. They are trying to persuade UK doctors to follow the best treatment and research as set out in the Mayo Clinic Algorithm and the AASM guidance.Prof. Guy Leschziner is one of the few UK doctors who is up to date on RLS knowledge.

It'll take at least another 10 years before the UK medical Profession is up to date.

[amrob123]

Here's an interesting paper which suggests that tramadol, buprenorphine and tapentadol are the safest opiods.

It's a transcript of a public lecture on pain management but is applicable to anyone taking opiods. It also mentions other medications that are used for sleep/RLS.

smhs.health.wa.gov.au/~/med...

It also helped me understand why a really small dose of codeine had a really powerful effect on me - it seems i'm a fast metaboliser, at least where that particular drug is concerned.

It's worth a read.

[MumofBella in reply to amrob123]

Very interesting!

[ELLSBELLS]

The article was written by someone who was pregnant with her second child and RLS ceased when baby arrived, sure I have read this often occurs with RLS in pregnancy.

[DicCarlson]

I just read the article online...

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

I have always thought that RLS in pregnancy, and the iron connection could be a leading piece of the RLS puzzle, as many find relief when the baby is born.

[LanaCSR]

So is the article saying that codeine is a cure for RLS and, if so, how much should a person with RLS take and how often and when? I'd love to get off of this prescription opioid. Is codeine available over the counter in the United States, does anyone know?

[SueJohnson in reply to LanaCSR]

No - not OTC and codeine is an opioid.

[LanaCSR in reply to SueJohnson]

Oh, shoot! Well, I will just stick with my buprenorphine since it works so well for me. Thank you, Sue

[TheDoDahMan]

Buprenorphine and methadone are usually chosen by wise prescibers because they last longer in the system of patients.