advice for medications

[SupermomNC]

I have RLS, luckily not everynight, but when I do I will toss and kick all night.  I am currently on Lamictal 100mg, and Zoloft 200mg, and Topomax 100mg.  First two for mood and depression and Topomax for migraines.  Any suggestions or success with anything that might work and not react with these others?
Thanks!

[KatEyes]

Wow, looks like you'll be on the way to sleeping better soon.

For those whose weight caused sleep apnea, losing it can help. For many, throat structure issues were the cause of the sleep apnea, so it stills exists after losing weight. And actually, sleep apnea contributes to weight gain due to affecting the appetite hormones and metabolism. Glad to hear you'll get a repeat sleep study to better know what's going on while you sleep. Please post back here after that study. Would love to hear how that turns out. And the results of a ferritin level.

[SupermomNC]

Good suggestion!  I had a sleep study done two years ago, before I had gastric bypass and that was when I was told I had sleep apnea and the RLS and the limb movements.  I had just (probably foolish of me) assumed that had remedied itself since I lost 140lbs!  Isn't funny though how none of my doctors have thought about this?  Well I have to cut them some slack because neither have I, it took a complete stranger to point this out.  I guess sometimes we get so caught up in the middle of the mess we can't see the obvious in front of us.  I will definately get with my doctor on this in the morning and see if I can get referred for another sleep study.  Thank you for taking the time to post!

[KatEyes]

Some meds can actually cause or at least worsen RLS. Have you checked each of your meds for that possibility?

Have you had a sleep study to see if you have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder as well as RLS and how badly your sleep is affected? I ask that because severe sleep disruption over time can results in symptoms of depression. And if a person would happen to have sleep apnea on top of that, oxygen fluctuations can result in chronic morning headaches. Not that you've mentioned anything that would indicate that, just showing how sleep problems can be overlooked as being a primary cause of daytime symptoms.

Some report magnesium helps their RLS, and there are some OTC combinations that claim to calm legs at night. Usually patients with RLS have their ferritin level checked and it needs to be above 60 for those with these limb movement issues.

There are meds you can take, but the potential side effects are nothing to take lightly. A good sleep neurologist could be helpful.