Connect
← Return to Restless Legs - Any suggestions as seen many doctors and medications
Discussion
Restless Legs - Any suggestions as seen many doctors and medications
Sleep Health | Last Active: 16 hours ago | Replies (63)Comment receiving replies
I have suffered from RLS for 25+ years. I have been on a number of anti-defense medications, Gabapentin, Requip, pramipexole, Neupro Patch, you name it. Since moving to Phoenix, I have seen four neurologists, one from the Barrow Institute, which took four months for an appointment. in 2021, he prescribed methadone, a low dosage, of which I said no immediately. I was ordered the pramipexole, yet had to stop due to augmentation. Today, it is not used as a first line defense for RLS, as the drug compounds the symptoms worse, as if your body reacts to the RLS in a worse way than before. I then had to slowly decrease the pramipexole, which was hell, and had 2 hours of sleep per night, and I am pleased I was retired. I tried the methadone and slowly crept up from 5 mg to 20 mg, assured from the neurologist this was a small dosage (?) pain attacks struck, and I tapered it down. I didn't have anything, I began seeing another neroyigst, a referral from a neurosurgeon who implanted a SCS in 2023. The neurologist also ordered the methadone. It s the only method that works for me. I began using the magnesium glycerinate over a year ago or longer, and use 6 capsules per night. The new neurologist ordered the methadone along with hydrocodone with acetaminophen for break-through though during the night. It has helped, but I don't like taking drugs. Though my trial and errors, I would recommend the magnesium glycerinate at 6 capsules, possibly more (and give it time) see if your iron levels are low (I had an iron transfusion over two years ago; since then, my iron level is very high) and try the low dosage methadone with the hydrocodone/aceptaminiphen. I also use a B 12 vitamin, as my feet were burning up at night (once again, give it time) If the neurologist isn't a good fit for you, try another. RLS is heredity, as I believe my Mom suffered from it, and with 4 remaining children out of 6, I am the only one with it. I am extremely active, and to be idle and take up a craft is not in my DNA. I wish you luck.
Replies to "I have suffered from RLS for 25+ years. I have been on a number of anti-defense..."
Thanks for the info and waited to reply as had an appointment with a neurologist couple of days ago. First it was the 2nd time I saw him and disliked him even more after this appointment...lol so he was not any help. I need to find another. I take B-Complex but wonder if I should try the B12 instead. On the Magnesium you stated that you take 6 capsules. What mg is each one? While waiting for this appointment I asked 2 different pharmacist, and both said that magnesium is not just flushed from your system like some vitamins and so should be careful how much I take. Tried to talk to this neurologist about it, but he could not be bothered to answer other to say what I take now was sufficient. I have had Iron test in past and even took extra Iron for about 8 months with no change so current primary said to stop since my levels were good. This neurologist mentioned another Iron test but said levels could end up being good, but body/brain not absorbing which I had just read about....he said no way to test that part. because I have had reactions to 4 different types of meds for RLS he wanted to give me pregabalin, but he got mad when I said no. My primary had given to me and when reading the side effects, it scared me. I know everything has side effect, but pregabalin seemed to have very serious side effects and because I have reactions to many types of medication including the 4 given for RLS that I was scared to take. I even have reactions to benadryl so I'm the person with the bright pink wrist band when in hospital for surgery...lol Will see what this new Iron test shows and think I will try the extra magnesium. While I don't think my mom had RLS she did have leg cramps all the time...I remember even as a kid that my mom would jump up from leg cramps. I get leg cramps often; some medications give me foot/ankle cramps. example recently I started taking prescription Omega 3 and now have leg/foot/ankle cramps every day, which I had planned to discuss with the neurologist, but after I said no to the pregabalin he was mad and he said he had another patient and left. think I was with him for about 10 maybe 12 minutes. I take 150 mg trazadone to help me sleep and even with that I move so much that have worn a hole in bottom sheets. I've taken that for about 25 years when a doctor discovered I hardly slept and just had surgery which is not good. my brother only sleeps about 3 or 4 hours a night and several things have not helped him... I know trazadone can irritate RLS so tried to stop in 2019 and didn't sleep for 30 days. Recently my primary said I should not have stopped cold turkey on my own...he had me take 100 for 2 weeks, then 50 then none...for 6 weeks I had almost no sleep and my legs bothered me even more or rather with no trazadone to help me sleep I feel the full effect of RLS so after 2 weeks of nothing and no difference in my legs I started taking it again. My legs will bother me even during the day or evening and can be worse if too much activity or if too little...lol Its a rare evening when my legs don't bother me so when they don't, I will sit and not move my legs....I will not even twitch my toes...and wait until the very last minute to get up and go to the bathroom and then hope my legs don't start bothering me. Ive tried so many things it crazy.
Connect
I'm absolutely shocked that a neurologist would prescribe methadone, hydrocodone and acetaminophen!!! These doctors are mostly western trained to see you in their office (if a specialist) 29 minutes and take out the prescription pad, though today they send scripts directly to pharmacist and it arrives at your door. Surprised the doctors don't have a staff member waiting at your house to pour pills down your throat. I take ALA, B12, and Magnesium 7. What's very good is Horse Chestnut and Butcher's Broom herbs. I do stretches, gentle yoga, take warm soaks in Epsom salt and baking soda, and my RLS and poly neuropathy are managed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6WmNTQTAfc