@zalley, @pcka,and all...
Well, hello, fellow RLS folks. I've had RLS for many years with a lot of discomfort, pain, burning, constant movement, poor sleep, etc. I saw an advertisement on tv for some drug for RLS, and thought it sounded a lot like my life. Never rec'd diagnosis until I had an overnight sleep apnea test at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville a couple years ago. I rec'd a definitive diagnosis, as well as severe obstructive sleep apnea.

The doctor at Mayo sleep put me on Vitron-C, over-the-counter iron plus C. My Iron level was extremely low at that time. The doc almost started me on iron infusions, but began the OTC first. It's slow to improve, but I am finally seeing a rise in the ferrous level. It's still low normal, but going in the right direction.

After taking the iron supplement for several weeks, I began to see improvements, from a higher energy level, clearer thinking, more pleasant outlook, and yes, my legs calmed and slowed down at night with reduction in pain and discomfort. I thought this was miraculous. Iron has only recently, last few years, been associated with RLS and it does make a difference.

I also am taking Requip, 1 mg nightly before bed. Wow! That was a miracle. Requip gave my legs new life, helped me in so many ways day and night. I noticed within a few days of starting to take this med, I walked more easily, could life my legs and feet, legs didn't feel like 1000 lbs tree trunks, don't keep moving all the time, much less burning and other yucky stuff. What an amazing difference.

I contacted my neurologist who agreed this might actually indicate some of my symptoms are Parkinson's related. I was tested fully for MS and Parkinsons, but both were determined negative. Apparently, I don't have Parkinson's, but do have Parkinsonism symptoms that are helped by treating the dopamine in my brain with requip. I'm in love with that drug! And, since taking iron and requip, I no longer take Lyrica, Lamictal, Gabapantin, or other pain and nerve/brain medications. I'm a different and far better person today thanks to these changes. Gabapantin and Lyrica did help me some, but I'm better now w/o them and with requip.

I also take Medical Marijuana, a 1:1 CBD:Thc tincture at night, 1 dropper, for relief from insomnia, anxiety, RLS, fibro pain, arthritis pain all over my body, cervical and lumbar vertebrae pain, and I use a bi-pap nightly. This regime is very good for me. I've tweeked it at times and will as needed, but I sleep all night now, with potty breaks of course-I'm 74 years old. I don't have seizures anymore. I feel so much better in general now, almost as tho my body is finally, finally synchronized. I feel almost, not quite, almost as tho I'm working on all cylinders for the first time in so many years, 50-60.

What a change I see in me. And, I like me better In fact, I like the world better! Fewer chemicals in this body, walking and 'exercising' in a warm therapy pool 2X weekly when I'm able, walking inside at Mayo between the buildings when I'm there and I pray at the mall again after I'm over the recent sinus surgery and can be in public. I have lots of things going on in this body, including sarcoid and vasculitis and an auto-immune system that's confused, so infections are a serious issue for me. But, I do hope to get walking again, just must be inside in controlled temps.

So, there you go. There is hope for those of us with RLS and it can be a real bugger of a condition. I'm here to tell you there is hope. I found the correct doctors, at Mayo, who are on top of the latest and diagnosed my conditions, got the diagnosis and proper treatment and I'm an improved model.

Blessings to you. I hope you will find the doctors who can and will take an interest in finding out what's happening and get you going in the right direction. It's then up to you, to us, to be proactive about our health. We must continue to push and ask and research the best sources and then fight our battles. It's only when you become your best fighter, supporter and take on the challenge that you will see improvement.
elizabeth