... my psychiatrist gave me clonazepam for restless leg syndrome over 7 years ago and when I was able to speak with a neurologist from the VA Sleep Study clinic, she realized that I should have been given something else since restless arms was the issue more than with my legs. So, she wrote a prescription for Ropinrole then passed along the prescription to be handled by my psychiatrist. I began showing weird symptoms and call my psych doc about it and she waved it off like I was worrying about nothing. She said to stop talking it for a week to see if I noticed a changed, after I had taken it for two months increasing the dose each month from .25 to .50mg. I looked the drug up on this website and my symptoms were listed under severe allergic reactions. I stopped taking that medication completely and after a month, my symptoms totally disappeared. Does anyone else have restless arm syndrome and have a different medication I can ask about?
Does anyone have Restless arm syndrome - what medicine do you take?
Question posted by sandallia2010 on 29 Aug 2010
Last updated on 14 June 2023 by BettyCurran
20 Answers
I have MS and have been bothered by RSL and RAL for some time I take ropinirole and baclofen for this and spasms, I recently read a post that said taking vitamin D cured their symptoms. I have started taking it along with my other medication and the symptoms have stopped.
Yes I have Nocturnal Myoclonus I take Clozapam funny about your question for I tried to switch to Gabapentin but it did not work I had old Meds. I have not been sleeping well Sleep is getting worse. But I see meds have a half life of 5-10 years depending on where you look. I just changed my meds to more recent I will see if it makes a change? But mine were not that old? I still have hope. There is no known cause of this. I would love to speak with you people do not understand and I must work. I hope this helps.
Sandy
Hi, I've been having restless leg and arm syndrome for many years. It first started out just every now and then and only in my calves. My father had it also and the only relief for him was to walk around. So for many years when an episode of RLS would hit, I spent my nights up walking, stretching, rubbing my legs. For the past year, I have gotten extremely worse with the added restless arms also. I tried hot bags which do alleviate it somewhat but then they no longer helped. I have chronic pain in my lower back and have had it for 30 years. Also I have many other aches and pains. My father had stenosis of the spine and was also a diabetic. I did so much research trying to find a home remedy but to no avail. So I posted it on social media to see if anyone else had this and what they did to help. From what I gathered, I needed iron. I knew I was getting enough iron so that wasn't the cause. I did however read about magnesium.
So I went on the hunt for it. There are so many different kinds on the shelf so I asked the pharmacist. She gave me (behind the counter) Magnesium Oxide 420 mg. I started taking one at bedtime every night and lo and behold, the syndrome stopped. I might have gotten a touch of it from time to time. So recently I tried not taking it for a few nights and it came back ten fold. Now I'm back taking it again every night and again, it's gone. I believe that it's the only thing that has ever worked for RLS and RAS. But you can't take just any magnesium off the shelf. Ask your pharmacist for Mag oxide 450 mgs. They keep it behind the counter because I guess people steal it or something. You don't need a prescription. If you look at the products on the shelf for RLS AND RAS, you'll notice that magnesium oxide is one of the main ingredients... Oh and it isn't expensive. I paid less than $10 for 90 tablets.
I found this post because I was looking to see if there was medication that was legal that helps with restless body+ arm at night. I am completely cured by medical marijuana. I take Gummies at night that have THC in them and CBD . Now I have to decide quit taking what works at night. NOW I can't get a job that requires drug testing because it's illegal according to the federal government. I think everyone needs to know this stuff works and you don't have to be stoned and stupid to take it small doses work on restless arm and leg I can't believe it's illegal after I've tried it for a couple months .
Now I have to decide be totally sleep deprived and get a job and be miserable that requires testing or take the Gummies that are legal in a lot of states or the tincture oil because I do not smoke and smoking does not last through the night you have to do edibles or tincture , I hope this helps somebody because I don't do drugs I don't drink and cannabis works . Please help legalize medical marijuana we all need it . Big Pharma just wants to dope us up
I am 52 and have had MS since teens and diagnosed at 29. Currently taking Tysabri, clonazapam 2mg, requip .50, baclofen 20 mg and citalopram (works wonders for vertigo). I am struggling with restless legs and arms. I use super hot showers and baths to "boil" muscles into submission, this can add up to three episodes a night. Many nights I am standing or walking around the house stomping my feet and twirling my darn arms! New trick is taking a 5 lb weight, holding it in my hands off the side of bed, me face up and stretching the heck out of my arms to exhaustion. I incorporate isometric exercises (tensing muscle groups to exaustion). I am at the end of my rope but have noticed that CBD oil (I can not tolerate THC) really shuts these freaking muscles up! I am going to get my MM card, from NY, and see if this helps long term. Thanks for listening. Be well my friends... Jen
I have restless arm syndrome, both arms (not at the same time). I've had RLS for over 15 years, but the arm symptoms started about a year ago. I take an avg of 4-5 Ropinirole/day, and sometimes I increase it, thinking it will help with the arms, but I can't confirm that this helps. I also use Night Time Leg Calm and Sciatic SootheOils from Nature's Inventory, which help a little. Sometimes I take Flexeril also. I also have pretty severe chronic pain from fibromyalgia. The thought of stopping Ropinirole is beyond imagination. I can't sleep without taking 2-3 Ropinirole in the evening, along with 2 Neurontin and sometimes a Melatonin. I'd be willing and happy to receive any medication or other alternatives to relieve the RAS.
I have never taken any medication.(I take enough meds for other issues) I actually use a massager on my legs. At first there is a "hurt so good" feeling. Then the restlessness goes away. It's something to try and there aren't any side effects.
My 85 year old mum suffered terribly with restless legs for years. She is now on a drug called Premiprexaline and has had no symptoms since.
I get restless arms and legs without the weird sensations. I'll start to fall asleep but my arm(s)or leg(s) will want to move. It's so annoying.
What works for me every time is chewing on 3 Tums. Within 10-15 minutes, the movements stop.
I've heard that drinking a bit of pickle juice helps some people but I've never tried it, nor do I want to take any prescription drugs for it unless I have to, which I don't yet.
Hope this helps you.
I suffer from severe depression for over 20years and I started having restless legs for a few years back and restless arms this year. They are so extreme that I tell my psychiatrist I want to chop the restless limbs off. The only way I find helpful is to use compression socks when I got restless legs and when it started at my arms I used it on my arms and it worked. For many years I just carry my compression socks everywhere I go. I use them for my arms too now. I wish there's a "cure" for it since I'm also on a lot of medication but the compression socks seem to do the work so I can fall asleep.
I have this more often than I care to count and sure hope you get lots of suggestions on how to deal with it. The only thing I can take is what I use for Restless Legs. I've been given Gabapentin for my arms and for my legs, and Mirapex. Neither works very well and I have been hoping there is something out there that really actually works. The Mirapex is 0.25 mg and the Gabapentin is 300 mg. Maybe one of these would work well for you. I sure do hope so! Hugs
I have had RAS for 15 years. It started appx 6 years after MS and Trigeminal Neuralgia were diagnosed. I have used a number of neuropathic pain meds as well as clonazepam. All of my exploration was supervised by a neurologist. When I decided I wanted to stop taking so many meds I started researching which would be the best alternatives and cause me no further harm. I began taking Magnesium Malate until I was up to 500 mg. I added iron and found that Slow FE was the best for me. After I added these as methods to control the RAS, the fibromyalgia eased as well. Before adding an iron supplement be sure to check with your doctor.
hi. i was diagnosed with restless arm syndrome about 5 years age. i was told there was medication [which is the same medication to treat parkinsons disease ] but once the medication is started you take it for life. i said i would wait until i really need to take it. but these last few months have been driving me crazy with stretching all of my muscles to get a bit of comfort for a short while. then it all starts again, i am constantly stretchy, all my joints ache, always tired. so only last week i was reading up on it again. and found a useful article. so i thought i would give it a try and see if i feel any different. and i definetely feel alot better and i have only been taking it 4 days. even after the first day, i thought theres something ive forgotten to do. then i realised im not going round stretching all the time so big big improvements. 4 days ago i went out and brought magnesium tablets, and cod liver oil capsules, and take just 1 of each a day.
i cant believe the difference in just 4 days. i would recommend trying this before taking any R.A.S meds. let me know how you get on if you try this.
Hello my fellow sufferers.My name is Robert.Let me tell you i have been dealing RLS and RAS for many yrs.now it sucks.I hated it it's just another health situation to have to deal with.Im sorry for anyone dealing with this.Let me tell you i've tried stretching moving throwing my limbs out and it might slow it down and i had a episode last night and it's aweful i tried to relieve myself it worked for 5 mins.after i tried one of my pain meds.a piece of perc.and that help long enough to get some rest.I need we need to find a drug just for this like i said the perc.help for some hrs.good luck and GOD be with you all.
So true Robert I have had it since 1987 it has become dipilatating for me I am still in bed at 11:22 am went to bed at 10 was up every 2 hours woke up at 8 tried to go back to sleep but could not. I do not dream does anyone dream with RLS or PLM or Nocturnal Myoclonus? I take 3 mugs. Of clonazepam. Gabapentin made me too dizzy still dealing with the med change. Why can’t I just sleep and stay asleep?
I do. I take 1200 mg of Neurontin (generic name Gabapentin) each night, approximately 4 hours prior to sleep. Unlike other responders, I have not noticed exacerbation of the condition with antihistamines or sleep medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. I have taken Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, NyQuil, DayQuil, Zzzquil, Ambien, Tylenol PM, and a plethora of other sleep, cold, and allergy medications. That may just be my personal reaction, though, and naturally doesn't speak for everyone.
I first started experiencing this six years ago while having a tubal ligation. I was given general anesthetic and experienced a response similar to restless leg/arm or myoclonus. I had to be put under completely to stop my jerking and allow my doctor to complete the procedure. Since then, I've had problems with restless arm as I try to fall asleep or if it simply gets late in the evening and I'm still awake. Mine is noticeably worse if I have to take narcotic pain medication (Percocet after surgery or Stadol for a migraine). Taking narcotic prescriptions makes it severe enough that I experience muscle pain for days following the episodes because they become so violent and lengthy. It's only worthwhile for the most severe need of pain management.
My doctor prescribed gabapentin for my whole body restless syndrome. I only take 100 mgs 2X a day. I do feel like I need one more to fully get the relief that I need. Will be talking with my doctor. But this med has really helped and made my life not so unbearable. It took away all my deep tissue pain and nerve pain also. I can't say enough positive things about this med. Try it. Best of luck to you and all of us.
I to have RLS & RAS. It is the worst!! I go to sleep with it and wake up with it and get during the day! Iam pescribed Carbidopa Levo 25/100. Fou times a day and it really works well..the only side affect that bothers me is a little naesous feeling..I know a lot of ppl on it too and it works for them too..there r differnt strengths also..good luck!
Related topics
bipolar disorder, restless legs syndrome, sleep disorders, clonazepam, sleep
Further information
- Clonazepam uses and safety info
- Clonazepam prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Clonazepam (detailed)
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