Restless Legs

I've been dealing with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) the last 3 years. Right after I was diagnosed, my doctor put me on pramipexole (Mirapex). Unfortunately, it was, at best, hit-or-miss, and with my prescription plan, I couldn't afford the refill. For some reason, they seem to be worse in the summer. When they're bad, my legs feel like they're on fire and I have to put ice packs on them just to calm them. I've tried an OTC product taken sublingually which sometimes helps. I try all kinds of things, some work better than others, but nothing consistent. Does anyone have any ideas or has anyone tried anything that works regularly?

Have you tried requip/ropineral(sp)? I have been on it for about 3 yrs and have no side-effects or restless limbs. There have been a few nights that I have missed a dose and sure enough my RLS was back. My neurologist thinks that if I get my iron levels up, that I can get rid of the requip. Haven't had a chance to see what iron supplement I can take that won't interfere with my other meds. You might also want to try cogentin. I was originally on that to counter a side effect of abilify, but it helped a bit with the restless limbs. Ask your dr about those two meds and see if they will be covered on your insurance plan. I pay $0.50 for my requip a month, but that is with medicaid. Still I believe it is a cheaper drug than the mirapex. I hope you are able to find some relief soon.

You wouldn't happen to be on a hormone replacement like Premarin are you? The reason I ask is because I know a woman who was on Premarin for years and also suffered from RLS. She switched to a natural hormone replacement and her RLS went away.

I'm not on any prescription meds at all. The only thing I take is an occasional melatonin for sleep aid.

I was diagnosed with RLS a few years ago in a sleep study. I feel pin and needles, an aching in my ankles that I can get rid of that feeling of aching when I move. I am constantly walking from room to room looking for relief. I want to try Requip. My psychiatrist want to try that. I can't wait for relief.

I've been diagnosed with RLS for two years. I don't take any medication that really helps me. My Psychiatrist wants to put me on Requip. I am on Propranolol for the tremors but it doesn't help with the aching pain if feel. It feels like growing pains. I get weird feelings in my legs that drive me absolutely insane! I can't wait for Requip!

I'm going to see my Dr. on this Thursday to try to get requip. I've been on congentin before and I swell up like a balloon! It's horrible. I really wished that it would've worked for me. Seroquel made me want to explode and I did. But I don't want to ramble on... Much love, and thanks again. Tanja

Several years ago, a newspaper doctor's column -- maybe Dr. Gott -- recommended taking Alpha Lipoic Acid, an antioxidant that can be purchased OTC at vitamin stores, for restless leg syndrome. Nothing else had worked for my husband. Alpha Lipoic worked immediately and continues to work for him. His case was extremely severe and he has been able to ease it without any prescription meds.

I sometimes get the sensation of an itch that can't be scratched in the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. It's most annoying. If that happens, I take one alpha lipoic 300 mgs. If it's not better within 20 minutes, I take a second one and it has always relieved that very uncomfortable sensation.

Alpha Lipoic can cause urine to smell different, in the same way asparagus does for many people.

We did get our doctor's okay on this to make sure we weren't ignoring a problem that needed medical attention and that the supplement would not interact badly with any medication taken. The doc said it was all right and it has been a godsend. Compared to prescription medication, it's safe and inexpensive. The least expensive brands have worked just as well for us as the most expensive ones. The cheapest one costs about $8 a month.

B12 and magnesium supplements have both been shown to be beneficial. The B12 dose varies but 1000 mcg/day would be a good place to start. Magnesium dose is 400 mg daily. By the way, magnesium also helps anxiety. My husband has been taking it daily and has noticed a difference in his anxiety levels and plus it has lowered his blood pressure which tends to run a little high.

I take magnesium too. With me my legs feel as if I can't keep them still when I lie down to sleep. At the same time I feel very anxious but don't know why. I was already on lorazepam but it wasn't working on the RLS. 400mg of magnesium citrate at night works really well for me. I think it helps a bit with general anxiety as well.