Restless legs

Updated Algorithm for the Management of Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnose: chronic vs intermittent RLS (no need for polysomnography) Test Iron levels (& Rx if) Consider: remove exacerbators; walking/massage/heat; carbidopa/ levodopa; pramipexole or ropinirole; low potency opioids.

View the full article here: Updated Algorithm

From Mayo Clinic and shared by Dr. John Cush.

Lyrica seems to be my new RLS wonder drug. I started at 75MG three times a day and didn't notice much of a difference. After 2 weeks I contacted my neurologist and asked her if I could increase the dose and she approved two of the 75MG pills three times a day, and that had a noticeable difference almost from day one.

It gave me a bit of a buzz the first couple of days and it still leaves me feeling slightly euphoric, but the exciting part is that it takes away my RLS symptoms and has allowed me to wean off Ropinerole (Requip) and now I am slowly weaning off Pramipexole (Mirapex).

I slept 9 hours last night. NINE HOURS. That has not happened in years!

Is anyone else finding success with Lyrica?

I was traveling back from Switzerland several years ago and I had the incredible fortune to sit next to a neurologist who had literally just spoken at an RLS conference! I was eager to pummel him with questions and one that I asked him was "if I had unlimited resources and could build a lab with all the latest equipment, would I be able to find a cure?"

His answer surprised me. He said "Yes, but it would probably only work for you because everyone's body is slightly different and responds to medication in different ways."

He went on to explain that my nervous system was like a car engine, where dopamine is the fuel. He said that my "engine" runs fine when the fuel (dopamine) was flowing, but my starter is broken and it's hard for me to great that engine moving. That analogy resonated strongly with me, because when I was active or playing Call of Duty, or doing something that fully engaged me my RLS symptoms went away. But as SOON as I sat down or laid down they hit me like a brick!