Medications used for RLS

When your doctor has made the diagnosis of Restless Leg Syndrome, you must now make a decision on how to best treat your symptoms. If medication is required there are a few that are now approved to work with RLS symptoms.

When you legs won’t let you rest, and it begins affecting you both physically and mentally, Mirapex may be considered as an option. The US food and drug administration has approved Mirapex to be used to treat moderate to severe restless leg syndrome. It is important to note that Mirapex is to be used when RLS is the primary disorder, as well as being used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Taking Mirapex, however, is different when taken for RLS than for Parkinson’s disease. Individuals with RLS will take a lower dose of the medication once a day; usually 2 or 3 hours before going to bed. It is also important to take the medication everyday, whether symptoms are evident or not.

As with most medications, there are side effects to be cautious of for instance, feeling drowsy or falling asleep, feeling faint or dizzy, nausea and headache. Also, be sure to share with the doctor any medications you are currently taking or other health concerns you may have.

Another of the more popular medications used for RLS is Requip. Requip is the first medication approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe cases of RLS and has been shown to reduce symptoms of RLS after two nights and can help relieve symptoms at 9 months. This medication is not for everyone, talking with your doctor and explaining any concerns you may have with health concerns and current medications is the best first step. Side effects with Requip may include feeling drowsy or falling asleep, or feeling faint; as well as nausea or vomiting.

While Mirapex and Requip may be the top medication choices in the news right now, doctors may also use a variety of other medication to help relieve RLS symptoms. Since no one drug will work for everyone, careful consideration must be made when treating a patient with RLS. Doctors must take into consideration their symptoms and other health concerns or conditions, as these are most important when deciding on a drug treatment for RLS symptoms. Some medications used for RLS were not originally intended to treat RLS, but do help symptoms. Among these medications are: prescription medication normally used for Parkinson’s disease and is often the starting point when treating RLS. Another common choice is sleep medication or central nervous system depressants. Sleeping pills are most helpful for mild cases that occur at bedtime, preventing a good night sleep. In addition, Anticonvulsants and Hypertensive medications are also used as treatments.

With any medication used for RLS, the dosage will start at a low level and then increase as the doctor sees fit to reach an effective level, and only taken when needed. Often, in milder cases of RLS, symptoms can be controlled by determining a possible underlying reason. With the treatment of a secondary illness, often RLS symptoms will disappear.