Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and mirtazapine

Posted by rw @rwlovell, Jun 30, 2017

Hi,
I recently started mirtazapine and have had a good initial reaction to the drug - my energy is better, my mood. The one rather major problem is it seems to trigger or exacerbate my RLS. I had been on tramadol (for back pain) about a week before starting mirtazapine and I have read that they can interfere with each other and cause RLS. My question is should I look for another antidepressant or is it possible that this will improve with time. Right now I am awake all night until about 5 AM when I catch a few hours of sleep. It is pretty rough.

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@rjjb

Does anyone take Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome?
I take it, and it helps some. Of course there is no cure for RLS,
but the Pramipexole does help me get some sleep. I've had
this RLS problem for over 30 years, and will probably die with it.
Is anyone out there trying to find a cure for RLS?

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Yes, I, too, have had RLS for way overt 30;years. It started when I was about 20 yo. I’d never heard of it until I had a sleep study in 1996. Since then I’ve taken a mild antidepressant, Trazadone 100 mg. It works I think by calming my mind a bit. If I take on an empty stomach it puts me to sleep. There may be other drugs now.

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@rjjb

Does anyone take Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome?
I take it, and it helps some. Of course there is no cure for RLS,
but the Pramipexole does help me get some sleep. I've had
this RLS problem for over 30 years, and will probably die with it.
Is anyone out there trying to find a cure for RLS?

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What is pramipexole?

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@helent

What is pramipexole?

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Pramipexole is a prescription pill for Restless Legs Syndrome. The same medicine is given to Parkinson's Disease patients, but much bigger doses.

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I think I just found the correlation between my mirtrazapine-tramadol & RLS flare up thanks to your post, will see
what happens when I take some action.
Thanks

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@ozzie

I think I just found the correlation between my mirtrazapine-tramadol & RLS flare up thanks to your post, will see
what happens when I take some action.
Thanks

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I might add I take 60mg of Mirtazapine which could knock out a horse and I have been awake every night since combination pramipexole and pain med tramadol.
Time to cut the Mirtraz' this is the problem I have come to the realization and I will get my Dr to change out, I don't know how I have been able to get by on 1-2 hrs per nite.
Thanks

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