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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: RLS/PLMD, Chronic Pain, & Depression : Hello -- I'm a 40 year old female. For as long as I can remember, I've had RLS and, I assume, PLMD given my familial history and my sensation of being "jerked" awake at night. I suspect that the RLS is at least somewhat stress induced as it seems to flare up during stressful times for me. However, it has never bothered me much during the day -- mainly at night when trying to sleep. Due to chronic pain in both shoulders (and three surgeries in about a year and a half, with a fourth likely) and, probably lack of quality sleep over the past five or six years, I've been diagnosed as being depressed and have been taking Serzone for the depression for about the past four weeks (300 mg a day in divided doses). The problem is that the Serzone seems to have aggravated the RLS to the point where my legs bother me during the day. While I don't disagree with the diagnosis of depression, nor the need for an antidepressant (and the Serzone seems to finally be kicking in, at least to a degree), I do disagree with how my physician's handling the RLS. He feels that, because RLS can be stress induced and, because antidepressants can help relieve stress, antidepressants will relieve the RLS. I've done some research and find that antidepressants can, in fact, aggravate RLS and I can't get him to understand this. He says that I haven't given the Serzone enough time to work. Basically, while I believe my doctor is very good in most areas, he's over his head with this one. He took me off the low dose of Elavil I was taking for pain management, which did seem to help, and was very unhappy when I requested a prescription for Ambien so that I could get some kind of sleep at night. My question is this: I'll be seeing my doctor in about another week or so. When I go, I want to ask him for a referral elsewhere. Should I ask him for a referral to neurologist or, given my mix of problems, should I go to a sleep clinic? I'm becoming very concerned as it's become nearly impossible for me to stay awake during the day and I'm afraid I'm becoming a menace on the roads. Thank you for any insights you can offer. Hello, Carol, In general, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is considered as a common sleep disorder that may regularly delay the onset of sleep. The syndrome is usually benign, but is occasionally a prelude to a peripheral neuropathy, perticularly one related to kidney function, so called uremic polyneuropathy. A closely related disturbance and one resulting in daytime sleepiness is Periodic Leg Movement During Sleep. There are several medications have proved helpful in the treatment of both the restless-legs syndrome and periodic leg movements. These include long acting combinations of L-dopa/carbidopa, also bromocriptine, and pergolide. Some sleeping pills under the class of Benzodiazepine also have been shown to help to have better sleep. Having said all that, it is very important, as you already realized, to have a thorough neurological evaluation including possible sleep studies and metabolic work-up. Our Center For Movement Disorders and Epilepsy Prgram, led by Dr. Stanley R. Burns, and Dr. Hans Luders, respectively, are nationally and internationally well-known. We will be happy to offer you a full evaulation and answer any questions you may still have. Please call toll free at 1(800)223-2273 or local (216)444-5559 for an appointment at your convenience. This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition.
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