restless leg jitters ,need help bad,can't tolerate any longer

[oldgoats2]

willing to listen to any help, problem has made me a basket case.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Looks like you have Restless legs syndrome. It should be occurring only when you go to sleep.

You should rue out all other causes for restless legs before starting treatment. If there is no other cause found, it is called as primary restless legs syndrome.

Check your serum ferritin levels. You may need oral iron supplementation. Increasing ferritin levels helps reduce the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

There are quite a few medicines available such as Gabapentine, which can give you some relief.

Regards

[oldgoats2]

Thank you very much for your comments.

I have had my iron checked, also most every other thing.

I do not have a problem sleeping with the restless legs. It's when I am trying to run the computer,driving or watching telivision. They will not let me set still.

I am taking meripex, eight .5 mg pills per day. They did work fine at a much lower dose but they slowly lost the ability to control the problem.

They are getting so bad that I am almost useless to try and do anything. I have to stand up and bounce my legs or walk. I can't do much of that.

I will ask my doctor about Gabapentine.

Thanks again, if there is any other help possible, please tell me.


Oldgoats2

[ggreg]

I think there is a "sleep disorder" forum at this website now, too, where they talk about RLS.

[lissavalenz]

I also have severe RLS and the only medication that has ever worked for me is Requip.  It is an anti parkinsons medication but was studies and labeled for the treatment of RLS a few years ago.  It works miracles and I haven't had any problems becoming tolerant of the dose I am on.  I've been taking it for several years.  You do have to start at a low dose and titrate up to a therapeutic level.  I take 1 mg at bedtime.