Anyone else have RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome)?? (blood pressure, arms, cramps) - Doctors, illness, diseases, nutrition, sleep, stress, diet, hospitals, medicine, cancer, heart disease - City-Data Forum

princessvanessa · 08-08-2007, 05:01 AM

When I was young my mom would complain that she hadn't gotten much sleep because her "nervous knees" kept her awake. I thought it sounded funny, that is until I started getting RLS about 20 years ago--I am now 54.

It is getting much worse of late. I hate to ask the doctor for a prescription because I already take medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma; but I need to be able to get to sleep at night.

My question is: has anyone else used the prescription Requip or Mirapex and, if so, is it working for you? Are you experiencing the side effects they talk about? Are there any other medications besides these two?

BTW--I have tried (and am still using):
soap (not Ivory) in an old sock, between the sheets, at the foot of my bed
tonic water - for the quinine
sub lingual tablets for leg cramps (Hylands brand)
lots of walking to try and tire out my legs

This RLS is making it impossible for me to get to sleep.

Thanking you in advance for your input.

sunflower53072 · 08-08-2007, 04:38 PM

Have you had your iron and ferritan levels checked? People with RLS often need higher levels than most people. I get it when I miss taking my Centrum with iron for a couple of days.

Sounds like you are trying alot of things. I hope something works for you. It is miserable.

Pikantari · 08-08-2007, 07:02 PM

me, I have it. Requip has worked for me, however, I currently take Klonopin. Have taken it for more than ten years. It is not something I would start taking, though, if you are not taking already. As small a dose as it is, if you miss it, you feel awful, I guess it is a withdrawal from the med, i don't know. If I run out, and miss a couple days, if the people at the drs office are slow in filling it, whatever, I feel like I may have a seizure. It is horrid. Requip did work good. You titrate up the med for 2 weeks til you get to your final dose

princessvanessa · 08-08-2007, 07:55 PM

Thank you cinderobyn and sunflower 53072 for responding.

Sunflower, I will definitely start taking Centrum with iron and see if that helps.

Cinderobyn, Klonopin sounds like something I want to stay far away from because I sometimes miss taking some of my medications. I will be seeing my doctor next month and if the Centrum with iron has not significantly improved the RLS I'll ask for Requip. Thank you for letting me know that it does, indeed, work.

While RLS is a rather innocuous condition it is starting to impact my life and it's time to take the bull by the horns.

brokencrayola · 08-08-2007, 07:57 PM

My husband's boss has RLS and is taking medication, I assume one of the two mentioned. He says he gets insomnia from it. Is that one of the normal side affects?

southernlady5464 · 08-08-2007, 08:20 PM

I have it...and it is miserable.

I was on mirapex until we lacked the money to pay the co-pays for awhile so I came off it. Then I tried to go back on it and discovered it made me nauseous. So my doctor has me on requip which isn't working as well.

Don't know what I will do now. Liz

Northwoods Voyager · 08-08-2007, 09:46 PM

For many years I also have had RLS. If you haven't experienced the total discomfort, you have no idea how miserable it is. I have been taking Tramadol bout 2:00 P.M. 'til 4:00P.M. everyday and 1 Mirapex about the same time. then at bedtime 2 Mirapex. A warm shower with something like Dove Nightime Body wash helps.

During the day, I must do some form of exercise or at least some walking. No caffeine drinks and no chocolate later in the day either.

On those nights that nothing seems to have worked, I try stretching exercises just with the legs. Stand facing a wall, about 2-3 feet away. Put your arms out in front of you and lean forward for a count of 10. then lean back for a count of 5 and do this for about 10-20 times. It seems to stretch the calves more.

Other than that, just have to walk around the house and drink some warm milk. good luck to you. I really know how you feel. It is miserable at the least. The sleepless nights and groggy days are unbearable at times. Again, good luck and pleasant dreams

Northwoods Voyager · 08-08-2007, 09:55 PM

princessvanessa: I thank you for bringing up a valid condition that sometimes no one takes very seriously. You can't see it, therefore it must be all in your head

.. It does have a negative impact upon our lives, The loss of a good nights sleep, esp. a few in a row, is devastating to say the least. The next day, or later that day, in the case of a totally sleepless night, is just about lost.

Really have to watch and not become cranky, irritating or irritated. It does effect your work in and outside the home, your relationships with others and concentration. Please check with your physician about Mirapex and Tramadol in combination. I have never experienced any negative side effects from either of these meds. Again, good luck to you.

princessvanessa · 08-09-2007, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northwoods Voyager

princessvanessa: I thank you for bringing up a valid condition that sometimes no one takes very seriously. You can't see it, therefore it must be all in your head

.. It does have a negative impact upon our lives, The loss of a good nights sleep, esp. a few in a row, is devastating to say the least. The next day, or later that day, in the case of a totally sleepless night, is just about lost.

Yes, it is hard for others to take RLS seriously and trying to explain the sensation in your legs is nearly impossible. People think, "well, fall asleep and it will stop". Ack!!! I am thankful for the commercials that are showing up on television.....perhaps now others can understand that it is not psychosomatic and it keeps you from falling asleep. Getting RLS on a long airplane flight is agony, too; you can't just get off mid flight and take a long, long walk.

I am going to buy some Dove Nighttime Body Wash today! It sounds heavenly and I so enjoy my nightly showers. The stretching exercise is a good hint, too. Until now I just pulled my toes up so that the muscles in the back of the knees become taunt and then relax and do again, an again, and again....you know the routine!!!! It really doesn't work but gives me something to do since I'm not sleeping anyway. lol

Thank you so much for suggesting the Mirapex and Tramadol combination. I will ask the doctor for prescriptions.

Pikantari · 08-09-2007, 05:40 AM

It does not only impact the legs, as one would believe, by its name. It impacts all of my limbs, until the med kicks in.

I dont get the creepy crawly feeling...TG...but, I do have to sit there, well, lay there , and knock my hands on the head board, or now, the wall, until it has all calmed down.

Move my legs around... etc. It does not only effect the legs... FYI