I have for about the past three months had Im pretty sure resless leg syndrome.
It feels like someone is pullling on my legs and if I dont move them they hurt. It keeps me up all night. Does anyone have a cure or over the counter med that they know of.
Thanks

Hey,

I don't know what happened over here. Yes, I have RLS. I heard that it is a vitamin B-1 deficiency. Yeah, thiamin. Walgreens- cheap. I take like 600mg a day. Look I still kick, but I am in no pain from that.

600mg? I could take 900mg. No, I am not going to OD, and it won't affect my behavior. My body will winkle out what I don't need. It won't interact with meds anymore than Centrum will, but check with your pharmacist, doctor or the web anyway. Actually, please do that.

Oh, and if you get really bad leg cramps like I did, you are probably potassium deficient as well.

I felt better in 2 weeks doing this. Think about how we eat. Think about where you are getting your potassium and B-complex if you eat at McDonalds every day. Get it??

Luly

Pooh Bear II, I too have RLS. Used to kick my (beloved!) husband in our sleep.

My doc Rx'd Klonopin (generic=clonazepam), but it is a benzodiazepine, so I'd like to be able to wean off.

I am going to talk to him about B1 (thanks Luly!). I also take 3 mg of Melatonin (over-the-counter) at night to help me get sleepy. Klonopin works eventually, but you build tolerance to it, so you need more and more to make it work.

I think you should tell your primary doc how your legs are feeling to be sure it's RLS. JMO.

my doc perscribed many different antidepressants. most of them worked for a while but i would soon build up a tolerance for them. i know use a natural supplement called valerian root. i've used it for about 4 months with decent results. the best price for good quality i have found was on the net at nutraceutical science institute (NRI)

thanks for the info guys.
I dont have a doc right now but I am looking for one so if I find one hopefully they can help.
Derf Clonazepam makes me really dizzy and tired does it you tooo?

Hey poohbear,
I'm not 100% sure the definition of RLS, but I used to feel it before bed trying to sleep yrs ago and then it seemed to go away. I wouldnt kick in my sleep, I would just feel this annoying leg ache where I had to move my legs. Lately, I have found that when I'm up late say watching a movie and I'm fighting sleep b/c I want to stay awake, I start to get the same achy feeling in the same area of my legs. I was curious if the syndrome was sleep related? It happens too if I'm having trouble sleeping, weird. I dont know. I'm interested in the vitamin deficiency issue, that would be great to cure RLS for folks by just taking a supplement. I remember the first time I saw the commercial about it, I thought wow, there's a name for it and look a med you can take too! haha
good luck with things
jocelyn

Hello there! I'm pretty sure that I have Restless Legs Syndrome, even though I haven't been diagnosed or whatever by a doctor. Especially after I saw that commercial about it, then I knew that I have it. It usually happens to me when it's around 10:00 or when it's time to go to bed. I get this weird feeling in my legs and I have to get up or just do something to move my legs, because it drives me crazy! So I know what you mean.
from, Tammy

Oh, I have awful leg cramps and shakes at night. I suppose I should see a doctor. I agree, that it is usually vitamin defiancy. I will try the supplements to. I wake up screaming and I can't get up to walk around.

Old-fashioned Quinine tablets help! Just ask your pharmacist.

Hi everyone,
I have rls and it was severe enough that I went on levocarb a drug for treating parkinsons disease.It generally helped but I couldn't live with the idea of taking a drug for parkinsons and so went off of it.It seems to hit me for a certain period of time then eases off and I have periods without it.I have connected it almost directly to my diet so the advise here for vitamins, eating well etc is well worth a try.I'm taking the good days vitamins associated with this program now and pretty much on a glycemic index diet which does wonders for mood swings and energy levels.
I think people who have never had rls just can't relate, so good luck to you.I know how frustrating it can be.

I have what I call leg jerks. I'm laying in bed and out of the clear blue it just jerks. My husband who knows it usually happens after a day filled with too much sugar says Oh, you've been eating too much sugar again." I hate the feeling but notice when I eat better, I don't have it.

Melatonin:

quote:

I also take 3 mg of Melatonin (over-the-counter) at night to help me get sleepy.

Please DON'T take melatonin before you go to bed. You need to take it 12 hours before you want to sleep! I recommend a consult with a sleep doctor/neurologist to help explain the effects.

RLS: Some deficiencies do make RLS worse, but cramping, etc., is more likely to be a deficiency than actual RLS. Someone mentioned potassium and B vitamins. Don't forget your calcium. Caffeine is a killer for both cramping and RLS. I have been taking Neurontin (gabapentin - used for all kinds of things at different doses) for years for RLS and it works wonders with no side effects (for me) and no addiction/tolerance issues. But if you have these kinds of sleep issues, I highly recommend getting a sleep study done to make sure you are identifying the right cause for the treatment you are prescribing for yourself. The physical symptoms of RLS are annoying when they are happening, but the effect of chronic sleep deprivation that RLS causes will keep you sleepy, with no energy or motivation for life. And you KNOW that doesn't go well with depression or anxiety! So if you think you have it, go get it diagnosed and treated properly so that you can get rid of a big factor in depression.
Artie

Hi Arti,

I take melatonin at the suggestion of my doc. I don't take it for RLS. For RLS he Rx'd Klonopin, which takes care of mine.

You don't say why you suggest not taking melatonin at bedtime, but my doc suggested taking it at bedtime to help me get to sleep.

I've had sleep issues my whole life (sleep walking, talking, etc.) and have been under a doctor's care for it for the last 15 years.

I was also a medical transcriptionist for 15 years (until November). I used to type sleep studies. They are to measure your oxygen saturation during sleep, and referrals are generally made for snoring. There are a number of treatments for that, including CPAP, adenoidectomy, etc., but I don't snore.

Best!

About melatonin - my doctor told me that it takes 12 hours for melatonin to work in your system. Melatonin is a hormone we make and it is made in response to light - sunlight, daylight. You need enough of that to be able to sleep at NIGHT. Many of us have poor artificial light from being indoors all day, so we don't make enough of the hormone during the day to allow us to sleep at night. It is very possible that your doctor does not know this. Please don't take my word for it - do some looking around on line and see what you can find out. It would really be a bummer if your melatonin treatment was ADDING to your problem! I have found that my original problem leading to depression probably had more to do with being tired all the time than with any emotional issues. After a while, the depressive behaviors become a habit and like any other habit, VERY hard to break. But that's why we're here, right? LOL. I also have a CPAP and am hypothyroid - all factors for me.
Cheers!
Artie

Hello,
Today is my first day. I too have been suffering from RLS for a few months. I believe that although my father has it and it is hereditary, I am having this due to stress and weight gain. As for over the counter I have been using Restful Legs by Hyland's in a little white bottle with a red label you can find it at HEB or Walmart. Get the ones that disolve under your tongue, they work, I have found that the capsules dont work well at all. I hope this helps, trust me I know it is horrible, feels like creepy crawlies and if you dont move your legs or get up you are going to go crazy, squirming all around. Trust me I know what you are going through! Let me know if I can help in any way.