What is Restless Legs Syndrome
RLS may be described as uncontrollable urges to move the limbs in order to stop uncomfortable, painful or odd sensations in the body, most commonly in the legs. Moving the affected...
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Restless Legs and Anti-Depressants
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Hi Everyone,
I was prescribed effexor for anxiety and panic attacks linked with depression and have been taking if for about 2 years. I recently weaned myself down and off this medicine because it was not working for me. I thought I had made it through the worst of the side effects and then the RLS started with a vengeance. I have had RLS for about 2 years but just the odd little time, nothing severe, it would flare up and bother me... now it's HORRIBLE. I cannot sleep at night, I cry all through the night because I'm desperate for sleep. I have tried EVERYTHING.. I think my ice packs are helping a tad but I honestly think I'm so exhausted I just think they're helping and sleep... I am curious as to whether RLS can be a side effect of an anti-depressant like Effexor? It's been 3 weeks of torture... now reading some of the posts I'm concerned it may be something more serious than just a side effect? If anyone has any information about any of this stuff I would be so appreciative to hear any ideas! I'm willing to try just about anything!! Thanks :) Posted on 01/11/09, 09:01 pm |
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I dont have much advice or knowledge about ur particular anti-depressant but would just like to say i know exactly how u feel cos i have been as desperate for sleep as u r right now and i know we're not the only ones.
Although i will add this, when i was first diagnosed with RLS i was prescribed an anti depressant (amitrytalene) to help me go to sleep so maybeurs worked in same way and now that ur not takin them it means ur havin trouble. Go back to docs and have a word tell them u wot u have told us and i hope u get something sorted soon 
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I have had horrible RLS for 11 years. The only thng that has helped is Mirapex. It is a wonder drug for me and I can't live without it now. I have painful RLS, always at night, most mornings, some afternoons. I learned I have to stay ahead of the pain by taking pain pills on time not as needed and take Mirapex regularly. It is the only thing that helps and still I have some mornngs writhing in bed praying countng waiting for 40 mnutes for all the meds to kick in before I start to feel relief. I can toally relate. Make sure when you go to doctor they check your ferrin or ferrous - it should be over 50. Also magnesum is good for muscles aches so i take 500 mg a day. But Mirapex by far has helped the most.
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is mirapex available in Canada? I see my dr. tomorrow, maybe i could suggest it. Can you take it for daytime RLS? Thanks ahead for any advice! Glad i'm not the only one suffering but i sure wish that none of us were.
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I have the exact same problem and think it is because of the effxor that I am taking. It's just to coincidental. It started a month after I started taking it. I am going to stop taking it and see how things are going. It's weird because most people say that effexors help with muscle pain.
i also have problems sleeping. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a CPAP machine. I am curious to see if you feel any better, now that you have stopped
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Hi guys, type "dopamine and restless leg syndrome" in Google, very interesting.
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Can I give you some good web sites? I have been studying and moderating groups for RLS for 12 yrs.
www.rls.org www.rlshelp.org www.health.com Web Md is good for RLS, too. The next thing you can do is to read reliable web sites and gain as much knowledge and coping skills as you can. There is a ton of evidence that antidepressants like Effexor, and in the tricyclic family, like amitryptilene, can be a secondary cause of RLS. You need to go to a doctor, and get started. Laying there in tears every night is not going to get rid of it, I am sorry to say. :o( Those drugs can actually cause RLS, and it probably will not go away.
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Has anyone tried dopamine. Thinking about asking my doctor
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http://www.acdlabs.com/publish/try...
Have a look at this website, Tryptophan is an amino acid needed to produce Dopamine and Serotonin. There are a lot of foods containing Trytophan, they are called " the feel good Foods" I have been eating a lot more of these foods lately and besides helping with depression and anxiety it also seemed to have eased my RLS. It's certainly worth a try, I prefer to go the natural way. I was on Efexor a couple of years ago but had too many side effects and also my RLS started before taking them. I personally truly believe that eating those foods are helping me more than prescribed meds.
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