RLS: Meds and Sleep Quality

[Guest guest]

Good morning, all.

One of my concerns that I would like to address is the *QUALITY* of

sleep we get by virtue of the myriad of meds prescribed for treatment of

our RLS. It is a common complaint, and one that I have experienced

myself that although Benzos such as Xanax and Klonopin can produce

seemingly deep sleep, they often leave us hung-over and exhausted the

next day. ly, I never felt my sleep restorative.

Lately, I'm feeling the same way with Neurontin. I'm getting about 6-7

hours sleep regularly, but have *ZERO* energy in the morning. I wake up

feeling like I've not slept at all, indeed sometimes I feel better if I

have merely just stayed awake all night!!!

Now I think we'd all agree that in the long run, medicated sleep is

better than no sleep at all. However, I'd like a consensus from you all

of which meds you find give the best quality sleep. I don't mean in the

short haul, because any medication-assisted sleep after a week of no

sleep will feel like heaven-on-earth.

I welcome and appreciate your comments.

Your in snowy Colorado (well, 3 " anyway...)

Jeff P.

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

My experience with different sleeping meds is this:

Clonopin - left me absolutely more exhausted the next day than I already

am. And for

at least 12 hours or more of the hang-over effect.

Ativan - same as the above but less severe

Ambien - good for getting to sleep but seems to wear off during the

night at which time

I may wake up, not from my legs hurting, but something

else.???!!!

Sinemet - seemed to help me fall asleep for some reason but did little

to calm my leg

feelings even when I took it 2-3 hours before bed. May

work, may not.

Xanax - good for getting to sleep and staying asleep but I only take

half of a .25mg.

tablet because I know it calms you down and God knows I

don't need any

more sedation than I already have. I just have trouble

getting to sleep at any

decent time and HOPE I can feel refreshed in the A.M.

(whatever that means)

I can deal with my legs much easier than I can deal with my EDS even

though both drive me nuts. It is the EDS that has such impact on my

life and that of my family. I could never work a 40 hour/wk. job, and

not even a 20 hour/wk. one for more than a few months without falling

apart mentally and physically. And I can't seem to sleep more than 6

hours at night and then have to take a couple hour nap EVERY day or I'm

so miserable and brain-fried I can't do anything but exist for the rest

of the evening. Anyway, I relate to this list ok, I DO KNOW I have

pretty severe RLS/PLMD but I relate much better the the narcolepsy list

even though the only narcolepsy symptom I have is extreme EDS and am

DQw1 positive.

I was on Sinemet for 8 years or so but the augmentation began to take

over, and I only took one 25/100 day!!! When I stopped Sinemet (which

did little for the RLS)and even when I switched to Mirapex (which

occasionally helped RLS)but neither did ANYTHING for my EDS, I was

forced to begin seeking more help.

I do think it is important to be able to sleep every night a reasonable

amount of time, but the latest research finding is that PLMD (don't know

about RLS) is not the cause of EDS.

So, there you have it, just another comment. Star

[Guest guest]

Jeff:

I did the benzo trip fro 4 years. Woke up feeling like I never slept.

Thought it was the meds.

Now, I know that it is because the benzos make my RLS better but do not

in any way address the PLMD which was actually causing me to have the

rotten sleep. Now I am taking Sinemet for the PLMD with Klonopin and am

practically a new woman after 45 years.

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

I am now taking Klonipin and vicodin and someover the conter sleeping pills

now of which work (used to). My doc has been ever so generous in letting me

try all the sleep meds she can think of and nothing wroks. I can go for days

of 2 to 3 hours of sleep until my system gives out and I spend the final day

severly cramping and vomiting amoung other things. It sure would be nice to

find something that would let me sleep at night whether drug induced or not.

I you come up with anything in your survey please let me know. I am open to

most anything at this point. I am hoping the rls doctor chat will help give

us some answers and possibly some avenues to go down we have not tried.

Lee

[Guest guest]

, I don't know if this will help, but I've had a prescription for

something called Imovane (technical name= Zoplicone) for a while now. Right

now, they're insisting I take it every night. It's supposed to be a

non-addictive sleeping pill. Leaves a slightly strange taste in your mouth,

but it seems to do the job.

I take one on top of my evening dose of:

- Lithium 600 mg.

- Xanax 1 mg.

- Neurontin 900 mg.

- Manerix 300 mg.

I'm beginning to feel like a walking drugstore, but I sure walk funny after

about 1/2 hour post pills. I think the Manerix is what's screwing up not

only my anxiety levels - I'm up to 3 mg. of Xanax a day - but also affecting

my ability to fall asleep. I don't think I like this drug at all, and I

have an appointment next Tuesday with the therapist and the pdoc and I know

I will be argumentative. I just can't relax, and I've been home since

Tuesday. At this rate I worry it will never feel normal around here again.

There's always something, isn't there?

Take care,

Eve

===============================================

>I am now taking Klonipin and vicodin and someover the conter sleeping pills

>now of which work (used to). My doc has been ever so generous in letting me

>try all the sleep meds she can think of and nothing wroks. I can go for

days

>of 2 to 3 hours of sleep until my system gives out and I spend the final

day

>severly cramping and vomiting amoung other things. It sure would be nice

to

>find something that would let me sleep at night whether drug induced or

not.

>I you come up with anything in your survey please let me know. I am open

to

>most anything at this point. I am hoping the rls doctor chat will help

give

>us some answers and possibly some avenues to go down we have not tried.

>Lee

>

[Guest guest]

,

Since I've been on Mirapex, I have not had to take a sleeping medication

stronger than Tylenol PM from time to time. I have, on the average been 75%

symptom free for many months. With the exception of a couple of months when

the drug stopped working, I kept taking it, and it started working again. I

have never had any augmentation or symptoms during the day. I have been 100%

RLS free for over a month now. I also know that, " this to shall pass. " Good

Luck Elaine, Malibu

PS put me on your buddy list on AOL, as I am online very late at night.