Restless leg syndrome

[torbaygirlie]

Please can one of the doctors help me. I desperately need sleep because I have been plagued by this horrible infliction for the past 2 months now. It can keep me awake most of the night & sleep only comes early morning when this funny horrible sensation subides.

My doctor has offered me tablets called Pramipexole/Mirapexin but I understand they are a brain blocker & I only take them when I am absolutely desperate.  Can you offer any other alternative & secondly is it only here for the short term & will go away soon ? I ask that because I have had this many times in the past but it has never lasted more than a week....this time it is  2 months.....& still with me.  sincerely torbaygirlie

[ggreg]

I have RLS.  You can go to rls.org and find all sorts of info about your condition.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

Unfortunately, the exact real cause of this condition is still not fully elucidated.  The lack of sleep that is associated with this condition also has the tendency to aggravate the symptoms and cause even more discomfort and problems.

For severe cases, some doctors would prescribe some form of anti-depressant therapy in the form of trimipramine  or other SSRI's.  This can help restore sleep, and therefore put a halt on the vicious cycle.

I suggest that you ask your doctors about these group of drugs and see if you are a candidate for such treatment.  

Regards.