Medication for Restless Legs Syndrome

[BlueSky72]

I have been diagnosed with RLS as a side effect of Geodon, a drug that I need to take for my depression.

My doctor has suggested Clonidine for RLS. Has anyone had experience with this drug for RLS, and if so, can you tell me how it was/is for you. How long did it take to start working?

Thanks
Ms Fidgety.

[Wulfman...]

Have you had a blood draw to see what you may or may not be deficient in?
One of my wife's doctors thinks that iron supplements may be needed if those levels are low.


Den

.

[Goofproof]

Magnesium and zinc supplements seem to help me, I also take iron daily. My rls isn't bad, usually taking the tabs bring relief in 40 minutes. Jim

[BlueSky72]

Yes I have had blood tests. Iron was ok.

I haven't tried Magnesium or Zinc yet. My blood levels of those were ok too.

I have RLS throughout the day as well as in the evenings. It's not that bad really, just annoying. I would like to see if the meds will get it under control.

[Sclark08]

I was given Miracept. It worked great but made me very drowsy. I take it when my symptoms are unbearable but that's it.

[Rustsmith]

Clonidine is not one of the drugs that is commonly used to treat RLS, but is occasionally used when some of the more common classes of meds have been found to not be effective. Usually the first class of meds used to treat RLS are the dopamine agonists which include pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip) and rotigotine (Neupro). Gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are also FDA approved for the treatment of RLS.

As for your bloodwork, the question is not one of whether the general iron levels were okay but is what was the ferritin level? Ferritin is checked only when the physician specifically requests the test. You also have to find out exactly what the number is because labs will frequently use a value of 20 as normal, but with RLS the value should be at least 50 and preferably 100. It is very possible to have low ferritin and yet the other iron values that determine anemia all look good.

Finally, if you want to find out more about RLS, you should check out the RLS bulletin board at bb.rls.org.

[JDS74]

sclark08,

Did you mean Mirapex as a medication? There is a similarly named drug Miracet that is used to help folks stop smoking.
I am currently titrating Mirapex (generic: Pramipexole) to see if my PLMD can be brought under control.
Started at 0.125 and am now at 0.250 working up to 0.500 mg at bed time.
So far, I can't tell if there is any effect. When the dosage gets to the target amount, my doc has me scheduled for a sleep study to measure what is going on.

[Sludge]

Usually the first class of meds used to treat RLS are the dopamine agonists which include pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip) and rotigotine (Neupro).

So what happens when you mix a

dopamine agonist

with a

Geodon is a ... dopamine antagonist.

[Sclark08]

Yes I meant Mirapex! Sorry

[JDS74]

I have been diagnosed with RLS as a side effect of Geodon, a drug that I need to take for my depression.

Geodon is one of several medications that increase the risk of QT interval prolongation. Are you being followed with EKG's to make sure that is not happening to you?

Combing Geodon and clonidine can cause a drop in blood pressure and depressive symptoms.

[Catlizg]

I take pramipexole (generic Mirapex) 0.5 mg at 9 PM, and 0.25 during the early afternoon if I feel the RLS kicking in. I've had restless leg and arm syndrome so severely at times that I've fallen out if bed and been in tears from exhaustion. The more tired I get, the worse the RLS, and the worse the RLS, the more tired. The sleep doc started the med 3 months ago and I have not had a full blown episode since. The first time ANY med, technique or treatment has worked.

[ChicagoGranny]

As for your bloodwork, the question is not one of whether the general iron levels were okay but is what was the ferritin level? Ferritin is checked only when the physician specifically requests the test. You also have to find out exactly what the number is because labs will frequently use a value of 20 as normal, but with RLS the value should be at least 50 and preferably 100. It is very possible to have low ferritin and yet the other iron values that determine anemia all look good.

Perfectly correct.

Any discussion about drugs or other treatments is very premature until ferritin levels are known and, if need be, corrected by supplementation.

[49er]

I have been diagnosed with RLS as a side effect of Geodon, a drug that I need to take for my depression.

My doctor has suggested Clonidine for RLS. Has anyone had experience with this drug for RLS, and if so, can you tell me how it was/is for you. How long did it take to start working?

Thanks
Ms Fidgety.

BlueSky72,

Since Geodon is an antipsychotic that has many side effects, I hope you are being closely monitored by your doctor to make sure that no other problems are occurring. I just worry when someone starts being put on another med due to side effects from the first med. That is how people end up on a cocktail of meds.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I am second guessing your treatment as I realize sometimes there isn't any choice with particular meds. My concern is due to speaking to someone I know who has been on antipsychotics long term and and has paid a big time price healthwise. I greatly worry about this person and I don't want anyone else to have the same fate.

The advice you have received regarding ferritin levels and possible supplementation is excellent.

Best of luck.

49er

[Rustsmith]

Sludge wrote:
So what happens when you mix a

dopamine agonist


with a

Geodon is a ... dopamine antagonist.

Most of the antidepressants used today are SSRIs that are dopamine antagonists and can aggravate RLS symptoms (as can the older antihistamines). It can come to a choice of which is more important to treat, the depression or the RLS. The most commonly identified alternative is the use of non-SSRI antidepressants, e.g. bupropion, which may be effective in the treatment of the depression and will not aggravate the RLS.

[Sludge]

Sludge wrote:
So what happens when you mix a

dopamine agonist


with a

Geodon is a ... dopamine antagonist.

Most of the antidepressants used today are SSRIs that are dopamine antagonists and can aggravate RLS symptoms (as can the older antihistamines). It can come to a choice of which is more important to treat, the depression or the RLS. The most commonly identified alternative is the use of non-SSRI antidepressants, e.g. bupropion, which may be effective in the treatment of the depression and will not aggravate the RLS.

Good save.