Sertraline and restless legs

[Sweetbabycheezits]

Hi all. I have been taking 50mg of Sertraline for GAD since December. Aside from the initial side effects, it's working, and I feel fantastic.
The problem now is my legs; I've had restless leg syndrome since I was a teenager (mum and granny both have it, as well), and it was a lot better until this medication. Now, it's keeping me awake at night...I spend about 2 hours every night tossing and turning, getting up to do squats, leg lifts...anything to get relief. More annoyingly, it's only in my left leg!
I've switched from taking the tablet at night to the morning, but it hasn't helped. It seems worse if I've had a drink, so I'm trying to avoid, which is fine, but I quite like a glass of wine now and then, so it's a bit disappointing! I can try cut down my caffeine again...prior to the meds, I found that 2 cups of coffee in the morning didn't make the rls (or my anxiety) worse, but maybe the meds change that?
Anyone else have this? I hate to give up the medicine as it's working so well, but I'm so exhausted, I could cry!

OP I don't have a solution for you, but just wanted to say sorry I what that is like as I had it for months after an operation and it is awful . I am on sertraline currently and I don't have it. Maybe try something like Nytol?

Thank you, Scones...it really does suck! I'd gone so long without a problem, so this is just frustrating, especially because I feel like the best version of myself on the medicine!
Nytol might be a good suggestion...it won't hurt to look into it!

Have you tried just standard iron tablets as that’s helped me plus I read a banana before bed helps!

Iron! I was iron deficient after surgery too. Another vote for trying that. Hope something works OP!

Oooo.. I just read something about iron, so I'm glad you said that!! I already take B12, but I'll see if boosting my iron helps!
Thank you!!!

I think I read that potassium and magnesium is supposed to help?

Hi OP, sorry to hear this - I had it too on sertraline a little but not as bad as you. However, I found that yoga stretching really, really helped. Particularly poses like downward dog, just holding that for 15-20 seconds will help. I’d suggest attending a class or two and then you can repeat the poses at home, or if you can’t go to a class the “yoga with adriene” videos on YouTube are very good, easy to follow and suitable for complete beginners best of luck!

I had this, it was unbearable. That was what spurred me to come off it. I have always been twitchy but the sertraline was also making me twitch during the day. Horrible.

If you can take ropinrole with the existing medication it’s worked wonders for me

Same. I’m a bit twitchy too.
I’ve lowered my dose and am going to try to get off it as I can’t stand it.
I’ve always had it when anaemic or over tired but it’s definitely worse. Annoying.

Hi OP
I took sertraline for about 4 months late last year / start of this year. I'd been on citalopram for 5 years and unsuccessfully come off it. I'm now back on citalopram. Basically because of the side effects of sertraline. I had leg cramps, restless legs, really bad indigestion and worse anxiety. Other members of my family have restless legs and it was an issue for me before I took sertraline. My sister took sertraline for a while and it made her restless legs worse. Stretches helped but it was pretty disruptive to my evening, every evening!
I went back to the GP because it wasn't working for my mental health either. Its obvioly working for you so I'd encourage you to go back to your GP. I think there are medications that can help with restless legs so maybe they could prescribe that?