RLS meds

[Guest guest]

Hi Newcomers and All,

It's great that there are so many of you discovering this group, which

will help you in many ways - possible treatments, understanding of

what you are going through, humor, debate - everything you would

expect and want from a group of friends anywhere.Well, here's what I

find to be helpful, and others have different ways of coping with " the

monster " -everyone responds differently.

I stay away from any kind of sleeping aids, except on an occasional

basis. I've known too many people who have had bad expieriences, and I

know myself, so I prefer to tough out the insomnia, which is no fun,

but tired as I sometimes am, I am functional, not depressed, have an

adequate memory, and am not building any tolerance levels and/or

addictions. I'm sure some people can use these types of drugs without

these side effects, but I'm sure I'm not one of them. Anyway, the

Mirapex (.50mg daily) is the only prescription medication I take, and

it is sufficient to keep the rls under control - it occasionally lets

me down, but not for long. Insomnia is a side effect,which I counter

with Kava-Kava- again not. 100% effective all the time, but a definite

help. I also take St.'s Wort, which I do believe works for a

general sense of well being. I know my rls is not as severe as some

members', neither do I have any long term significant pain. This is

just the luck of the draw here, and may very well not be true as the

glorious process of aging continues! BTW, I do have a prescription

for Tylenol with codiene, which I take for emergencies only. It works

so well, that I can see the temptation to take it, or a similar med,

on a regular basis, but then it would probably not work as well, and

my ace in the hole would be gone.

Hope some of this will be helpful to all of you just starting out on

the quest for relief - it will happen!

Right now I am sipping Tension Tamer Tea, which also seems to calm the

leg jitters that often hit in the early evening.

Have a good evening and restful night, or at least not a terrible one!

ne, 59, Lawrenceville, NJ