Ok so I noticed that someone mentioned Requip and just wanted to give you fair warning about it. I was on it for a few months and at first I noticed that about 30 minutes after taking it I would fall into a deep sleep but I wasn't concerned because the medication was taking away my RLS symptoms. I have recently been taken off of Requip due to "extreme side effects" ie: falling asleep in the middle of the day (I take it at night), doing odd things in my sleep (as in texting, talking, laughing,and throwing things! At one point I even had an entire TWO HOUR phone conversation IN MY SLEEP!!) Numerous times I fell asleep during daily activities like playing the piano and picking up a piece of paper that had fallen on the floor! :( So while Requip is a WONDERFUL RLS medication, be VERY careful if you are going to take it and call your doctor if ANY of that starts happening!!

Anyone have RLS (restless leg syndrome)? I have been taking L-dopa )a drug for Parkinson's (which I do not have though) for many years for my RLS with no negative side effects. Now, the pharmacy says it is not used much any more for RLS or Parkinson's so is very difficult to get & I need to change to another drug! Anyone with RLS who has been using another drug for it & feels it works well with no negative side effects? I am desperate to find a replacement for L-dopa now!

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm#3237_5 Common drugs prescribed to treat RLS include: Dopaminergic agents (drugs that increase dopamine), largely used to treat Parkinson's disease, have been shown to reduce symptoms of RLS and PLMS when they are taken at bedtime and are considered the initial treatment of choice. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ropinirole, pramipexole, and rotigotine to treat moderate to severe RLS. Both drugs are generally well tolerated but can cause nausea, dizziness, or other side effects. Good short-term results of treatment with levodopa plus carbidopa have been reported. Although dopamine-related medications are effective in managing RLS, long-term use can lead to worsening of the symptoms in many individuals. This apparent progressive worsening is referred to as “augmentation.” With chronic use, a person may begin to experience symptoms earlier in the evening than in the afternoon until finally the symptoms are present around the clock. The initial evening or bedtime dose becomes less effective, the symptoms at night become more intense, and symptoms begin to affect the arms or trunk. Fortunately, this apparent progression is reversible by removing the person from all dopamine-related medications. Another important adverse effect of dopamine medications that occurs in some people is the development of impulsive or obsessive behaviors such as obsessive gambling or shopping. Should they occur, these behaviors can be reversed by stopping the medication. The FDA has approved gabapentin enacarbil, which metabolizes in the body to become gabapentin, for the treatment of moderate to severe RLS.

I've been taking Neurontin (brand name of gabapentin) for restless leg syndrome for over 15 years. It's prescribed by my sleep doc. I take it every night without fail and never have a problem. I rarely wake before morning but if I do it's for a bathroom visit. I take the brand version rather than the generic because the generic doesn't work effectively for me. Sleep matters were discussed in a recent thread. Anyone who has trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep should see a sleep doctor. The treatments and therapies they provide can be life changing. There's more involved than just personal comfort because the failure to get normal sleep can have a very negative impact on many parts of your body and on your health overall.