Restless leg syndrome

[ChestyNut]

Does anyone else have it?

What do you find helps?

GP has prescribed miraplex but the side effects listed are awful

Amitriptiline helps.

Small glass of tonic water as contains quinine.
Bachs rescue remedy in the night if I can't sleep, make sure your duvet isn't too heavy, have swapped to summer duvet and have been a lot better last few nights.
Sometimes think mine are also better eating a banana everyday.

I have this - too much alcohol, caffeine or sitting about sets it off. Thankfully it seems to be a little better the older I get but I've avoided all medication so far as a) I'm sure it's mild with me and b) the drugs I was supposed to be proscribed were also used to treat much more serious illnesses and ran the risk of horrendous side effects.

I find that not getting too hot helps - I remember seeing a documentary about it, the guy featured had an electric fan pointed at his feet all night just to stop him twitching!

My sympathies. Of all the ailments to have, it is the most feeble and yet highly irritating!

Oh it's awful!

The drug he prescribed is also for Parkinson's but too many intolerable side effects according to RLS forums.

I was taking tramadol but GP said need to stop so expecting a rough night tonight

Oh, I was given a drug for Parkinson's...it made it worse.

Ami was great, loads of kip on it too.

I suffer for it to. I find that I can have a couple of drinks fine, and then have another, and it sets it off.

I usually get it in the evening, so I usually go to bed, and find the change in routine helps. I usually kick the duvet of my legs - keeping cool helps.

As i write this i'm sitting with my leg twitching - its driving me mad!! If i'm not mad already, that is! i've had it for years - it comes and goes and when i get it it can go on every night for weeks then stop for a period of time. It starts in the evening or in bed - i get out of bed, walk around stretch my calf and thigh muscles - sometimes it goes on for hours.

I've read somewhere that magnesium can help - note to self: i really ought to start taking magnesium again.

Dh has this - valerian works really for him.

Gabapentin is a good alternative to dopamine agonists. Quinine and magnesium will not help at all and Amytripteline will exacerbate it. Have a look on rlshelp.com.

My DH has it and I have to admit sometimes I have been woken SO many times in the night that I am beside myself and I give him a gentle kick in the legs !

It's just so confusing as so many conflicting treatment suggestions out there.

at lucy kicking DH.

It's to do with Dopamine levels. If they are too low it can cause roll. Amitriptiline is an anti depressant which will work on dopamine, which is why it works. It made mine better, not worse.

Gabapentin is the other one that is usually suggested.

get a magnesium oil spray from Holland and barret. spray 5 sprays on each leg before bed and rub in well. seriously it is fantastic, I started using it for rls and it has stopped it, plus my eye twitch and night twitches. didn't even know I was magnesium deficient!

Look on rlshelp for medicines that will make it worse.
There is also a discussion forum on FB if you want to talk to other sufferers. They will tell you it's essential to see a neurologist since most GP's knowledge is limited.
Tramadol would have helped because it is opiate based but its a bit extreme for rls.
Be warned that there are lots of snake oil salesmen out to exploit sufferers as well as all the old wives tales that are around.

it's worth having your Dr check your bloods as low iron levels can exacerbate it.
gabapentin helped mine for a long time ( nice side effect as i was taking it for neurological pain in ms)
its back again now and me and my toenails have literally kicked DH out of bed...into the spare room
having the space to stretch helps

INK thanks for the heads up about the FB page and rls site

Well I've been to holland and barretts and armed with magnesium supplements and valerian.

Also threw a lavender bath bomb in for good measure

I'm just do nervous of all the drugs out there and side effects...at least I know what painkillers do IYSWIM?

I've had a FBC recently but don't think ferritin is included?

I found mine is worse when I have been anaemic. I wear a nightdress rather than pyjamas when possible so my legs don't get hot, I have found that putting my feet into really cold water for 10 minutes or so helps. The last tip was given to me by my midwife- it sounds daft, but helped me.

for years now. I take L-dopa on and off and sometimes it helps but taking it every night can make it worse. I'm on valium to help me sleep. I've tried magnesium, iron, vit D, the list is endless
Its getting worse as I age.

Vitamin B6 helps. You have to take a fairly high dose.

I have suffered on and off for 15 years ( since becoming pregnant) Going through a particularly bad patch atm, the normal constant dull ache plus occasional shooting pains

The last 2 months I've been surviving on 2-3 hours sleep. Surprisingly I'm not knackered in the morning, but struggle to keep my eyes open past 8 pm. As soon as I go to bed it starts!!

I've given up alcohol completely ,try to keep hydrated, am eating healthily, walking loads,and lost a bit of weight as this has helped in the past....not this time.

I also have had arthritis in my feet since my early 20s so not sure if this adds to the problem.

On a good note, I get up at 5.30 most mornings, so my house is spotless!!!

Urge it's terrible jen

Well that was a proper rubbish nights sleep

Feel like I've done the bed Olympics!

Oh Chesty it is awful, isn't it?

I had it horribly for months when I was on methotrexate.

Tonic water and a banana before bed did seem to help a bit.

These days I still have to avoid Lemsip - it seems to start it off again - no idea why.

Yep, get it to. grim :(