restless leg syndrome treatment?

[dminton]

I'm curious what others have tried for restless leg syndrome, which seems to often go along with Fibromyalgia. It's that sensation in your legs, or legs and arms, that you must move and cannot lie or sit still no matter what you do. It comes on during periods of inactivity, like sitting still, watching a video, trying to sleep, etc. It is driving me absolutely crazy.

I tried Sinemet (a Parkinson's drug) and it stopped the movement urge, but I didn't sleep any better for having taken it, I still woke up just as tired as I had been when I went to bed. I find that half a Vicodin works very well, but I'm not supposed to take it due to rebound migraines. I also find that Xanax and Ambien do nothing at all for it.

The really weird thing about the Sinemet is that I got a very strong sense of bladder pain and urgency (I never have urgency, normally) about an hour or so after taking it, and the feeling lasted about an hour, then went away. It increases dopamine, and I know the bladder responds to neurotransmitters, and this is positive proof!! I really don't want to take this med.

Any advice or comments would be welcomed!!

Diana.

[Katrina]

I have been on anti convulsants because I have both Epilepsy and rapid leg movement and I find that my symptoms are mild with the meds. I take Tegretol and Keppra right now. It might be a good idea to try some anti convulsants since some anti convulsants are used for pain and may help your IC as well as the Rapid leg movement. I think Neurontin and Gabitril are the most common ones for IC. Wish I knew more. So sorry you are having so much difficulty with this. :grouphug: I know I have symptoms both day and night and is one of thw many things that make it hard to sleep.

[dminton]

Thanks, Katrina -

I'm glad you get some relief with those meds. I've heard of the anticonvulsants used for fibro pain, and sleep disorders such as restless leg often go along with fibro. I've heard mainly of Neurontin used in this way.

Anyone else out there with restless leg syndrome?

Diana.

[Indy]

Klonopin does it for both the restless legs and bladder spasms.

[dminton]

Thanks, Indy, I will ask my doc about Klonopin. That's a good suggestion. Half a Vicodin works very well for me, along with 1/2 Xanax, but I'm trying to get off the Vicodin entirely due to rebound headaches. It's always something! Thanks again.

Diana.

[fireflicker285]

I have the restless leg. Some days very bad and other days hardly there. I am not on anything for it currently.

Good Luck with yours.

[dminton]

Mine comes and goes too, but when I have it, it is devastating. It's such a helpless feeling to try and lie there and relax, but you can't. I'm going to keep trying things until I find the right thing. Good luck to you too. Are you going to try something?

Diana.

[jrowley]

I use mirapex I was dx with severe rls. I jerk every 6 mins. However if you have fibro and are taking elavil then that could be your problem. Elavil will make your rls worse in most cases and it is not recommended to be used with parkisons drugs. See my two (http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14222) post (http://www.ic-network.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14202) for some info I put there on some of the meds that will cause rls to be worse.

[shennan]

you don't feel/think that tegretol bothers your ic?

thanks...
shenna

[Dianne]

I have a very intermittent case. Greatly exacerbated by sugar if eaten any time during the course of the day, will pay for it at bedtime. Worse on my back. Better on my side, only that's the position that gives me the most bladder pain too. I take 300mg. of neurontin at bedtime for IC pain though and when it peaks, the legs settle down too.

[jrowley]

I got switched to klonopin last week from mirapex and I find it has been helping with both the rls and the IC. I haven't felt even a tench of pain in my bladder, however is causing a great deal of constipation so working on that to get it under control. The mirapex caused my rls to get worse so Doc took me off it.

[Danielle2392]

I was put on Elavil for my restless legs. It has worked very well for me. I hope everything works out for you.

Thanks,
Danielle

[jrowley]

depending on the severity of it depends on what the doctor prescribes for you.

[Debgail]

I toohave restless legs, was originally give Neurontin which helped ( just made me mean feeling) but when i was put on elavil for ic ...it worked on my legs too,so I dropped the Neurontin. :) Debbie

[Katrina]

Shennan, like Neurontin Tegretol could hurt or help IC. I have no idea how it affected mine...me started the drug pre dates my IC.

Since my Restless Leg syndrome is definatly Genetic and Neurological I really wonder if some of the meds that have been mentioned would help me.

[jrowley]

Well I have been on mirapex then klonopin and now back to mirapex for about two months and neither one has helped. The mirapex has made things much worse with more pain and i get restless sleep now. The klonopin made me so tired I couldn't stay awake during the day and I had pain with it during the day. So now they are sending me to a neuroligist as they think there is more going on with me than just the legs

[Katrina]

I sure hope that what the Neurologist find out helps you feel a lot better. Spending a lot of time seeing my Neurologist lately....and having meds changed....and I can tell with me taking less Tegretol my RLS is worse....not a problem I needed. Depending on my dose Tegretol can make me worse or better....and my body seems to be incharge of how much I take more than me. :grouphug:

[jrowley]

yeah thats the way i was feeling with the mirapex and the klonopin so I know you know how I am feeling katrina. It's no fun being a jerker all the time.

[adrie]

Excellent thread. I thought I was alone with this symptom. My episodes increase with the pain. My nuerologist says that it is my body's response to the nerve damage and inflamation.