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I have RLS (Restless Leg syndrome) .... anyone else taking this drug ?

11 years ago

Anyone suffering with Restless Leg syndrome? I have had it in the evenings for over 20 years & have been taking carbidopa/levodopa (used for Parkinson's disease usually) every evening which seems to help a lot. The pharmacy now says it is getting more difficult for them to get it (Parkinson's patients have newer drugs I guess now that they take so no longer use the carbide/levodopa drug)! I have been in new drug trials for RLS but found those drugs had side effects that the L-dopa doesn't have for me. Anyone else with this problem also? Yes, I have also tried the bar of soap under the covers too... didn't help me at all !!!!

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Comments (5)

krissie55
11 years ago
When I first heard about putting a bar of bath soap under the sheet near the feet I thought it was just silly. Well, I gave it a try and sure enough it stopped the restless leg syndrome.

Not sure what soaps work, I used Dove bar soap.
vieja_gw thanked krissie55
vieja_gw
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks krissie! I will some evening NOT take the L-dopa/carbidodopa & later put a bar of soap in bed near the feet. Problem is, the restless legs begin in the evening while I am still awake so would have to put up with the awful symptoms until I went to bed & tried the bar of soap! Will try it though as the old Rx for L-dopa is not being used much anymore for Parkinson's so not then for RLS either. New drugs out now for RLS & I have been on several of the new drug trials ... but I didn't like the side effects of any of them (none with the L-dopa). This odd ( inherited too as it was with me) condition can drive one crazy with 'jumpy' legs!
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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!!
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I'm glad my question has helped others, too! DH's MD has agreed to do the additional blood tests at DH's next physical. The leg-kicking symptoms have abated as DH went back on a minimal dose of Abilify. This is the third time he's developed the leg movement at night three weeks after stopping Abilify. His MD would like to get him off the Abilify, mostly because it is a drug with a short track record, but so far...stopping it only causes problems. Eighteen months ago DH had what we came to find out was a serious panic attack. After some experimentation with other drugs, he was put on Cymbalta. That helped with the mood disorder, but not as much as Cymbalta (40 mg) plus Abilify (1 mg). Either the Abilify also helps with the leg problem or stopping it *creates* the leg problem! Who knows? DH had the leg problem several years ago when he was taking statins for cholesterol. Since he was only borderline-high cholesterol, his MD agreed to stop the statins. The leg problem ceased...until returning last year after the panic attack and drugs for that. I'd LOVE to find that all or some of this could be traced back to a simple vitamin or mineral deficiency. It's been a roller-coaster ride! Thanks for listening...and for your good suggestions.
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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!
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ellenlandis
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I once had RLS. What worked for me is.... I would lie down on the floor with my legs up the wall. My butt would be as close to the wall as possible. I do this for 15 minutes before i went to bed. I don't know why but it worked and I haven't had this problem for years now. My guess is that it would affect the blood circulation in my legs. This also helped me when I had sciatica pain.

Hope this helps!
User
11 years ago
I had a short bout of it. What worked for me was to wear wool socks.
rogueriversalmon
11 years ago
I do exercises to tire out my legs. Then I wear light to medium compression socks to bed. The socks don't eliminate it, but it does reduce it a lot.

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