Do Iron tablets help?

Please share your experiences, successes, and failures in using non-drug therapies for RLS/WED (methods of relief that don't involve swallowing or injecting anything), including compression, heat, light, stretches, acupuncture, etc. Also under this heading, medical interventions that don't involve the administration of a medicine to the body (eg. varicose-vein operations, deep-brain stimulation). [This forum contains Topics started prior to 2009 that deal with Non-prescription Medicines, Supplements, & Diet.]
LB
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:39 am

Do Iron tablets help?

Post by LB »

HELP! Sleepless in SC!
I first noticed this problem about 6-8 months ago and found this website where I read about the lack of iron. So..I tried taking iron tablets at bedtime and it helped for awhile. Now I am back to almost no sleep and wonder if I should take more than one tablet of iron.
No, I have not yet talked to my doctor about this problem but I fit all the descriptions - i.e. jerky, tingling legs when I am at rest either sitting or lying down. I was thrilled to find it is a real syndrome and that I was not going crazy!! I am a little afraid of taking more medications since I already take Lipitor and Glucosamine-Chondritin regularly in addition to vitamins, Claritin, calcium, and a hormone patch. (I am a 56 year old female.) Are there any other over-the-counter drugs that help?

Would they or I benefit from me joining a research project?

jumpyowl
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Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:59 pm
Location: Yantis, TX
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You've got to act!

Post by jumpyowl »

Hi, LB!

It is true that occassionally RLS-like symptoms is caused by iron deficiency and/or magnesium deficiency, or temporarily helped by taking supplements. However, this is such an elusive disorder like anything connected with the brain that it is important to take it seriously.

I am considerably older than you and a male to boot and only recognized my symptoms a few weeks ago. Since then I did some serious research and even (gasp) went to see my family doctor almost two weeks ago.

On my next visit I will ask him to order some blood tests because I also want to find out about possible deficiencies in certain electrolytes. But in the meantime he prescribed hydrocodone. I also found that some esoteric medications helped more than hydrocodone (such as an anticonvulsant). Trying different medications is important because in a sense they serve in a diagnostic function.

It is important to find a doctor who knows something about RLS. To be able to determine that you have to educate yourself about RLS.

I found the California website very helpful. I do not have the link but if you cannot find it, I shall get it for you.

Have a good rest, we all clamor for!

JumpyOwl
Jumpy Owl

jumpyowl
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Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:59 pm
Location: Yantis, TX
Contact:

Ruby is the iron expert!

Post by jumpyowl »

Hi, LB!

If you read the next post, you will find some sound advice on iron deficiency from Ruby. I also heard of a brief research project where they autopsied 15 people who in life suffered from RLS. They all showed that the ferritin level in their brain was too low. I am not sure they know what it all means but it is interesting.

My daughter has severe fibromyalgia and she also has low ferritin levels. Many of the medications found effective for fibromyalgia pop up in treatment regimens for RLS. Makes one wonder. :?

Good luck in your quest!
Last edited by jumpyowl on Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Jumpy Owl

Rubyslipper
Posts: 992
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:53 am
Location: Missouri

Post by Rubyslipper »

Ruby here! From the research I have done, it seems that if you have a real iron deficiency you may need iron shots, pills just don't stay in your body long enough to help a lot. But you really need to get in with a doctor that knows about RLS or is willing to do good research on it with you. Mr. Owl amazes me with the info he has found so listen to him. RLS is so different for each person. Some of the basics seem to be that sometimes it runs in families, it is usually worse in females and many times gets worse as you get older. Ferritin levels should be checked which is a measure of iron storage. Magnesium tablets help a lot of people, you may have to experiment with the dosage. Lifestyle affects your symptoms too. Caffeine is a problem for me as well as stress. I'm glad you found us. Keep us posted on your journey.

Pip

RLS

Post by Pip »

A few years ago I talked to a neurologist friend about RLS and he prescribed Quinine tablets to take. They WORK. I take one when I first feel the crawling usually when I am sitting down in the evening and it gets rid of my symptoms for the evening/night.
I am from England and last time I was there I told my Mother's doctor about it and the next time I visited he thanked me profusely from all his patients that had taken the quinine and had got relief.
I pass this info on any time I can.
Pip[/b]

Pip

Quinine tablets

Post by Pip »

Sorry, I posted this in the wrong section. Not non-pharmaceutical therapy but a good one.
Pip

zyndari

Prescription Drugs

Post by zyndari »

If was diagnosed with RLS about 6 years ago. Was referred to a Sleep Disorder specialist and went through a sleep study - spending a night in the hospital, with a number of wired patches from head to toe hooked into a system to measure what was happening during the little sleep that I got that night. The specialist then prescribed two medications - one for the evening hours (caradopa/levadopa) and another taken at bedtime (permax - aka pergolide). After much experimentation as to how many to take to achieve the right balance, the results have been quite successful. I now rarely have a problem if I follow a couple of other rules - stay away from stimulants in the evening, such as caffine and alcohol. I hope this is of help to you, and that you find a good specialist to consult with. I'm in Madison, WI and the Dr. is located at Meriter Hospital.

Guest two

Chiropractic Solution

Post by Guest two »

A rewarding non-drug solution to RLS...A yearly vist to a Chiropractor to realign the spine and release the nerves. Excercises for the lower back will aleviate RLS between visits. Do some stretches and toe touching. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed and bend and stretch to the sides. Feel the pull in the lower back. It really helps to relieve my RLS. I can usually associate my RLS to inactivity (laying on the couch watching Tv instead of cleaning the house, etc.) :wink:

Guest

Post by Guest »

My neurologist has me on Mirapex and Neurontin. They are brand names, extremely expensive and I do not have insturance. So far, I have paid a couple thousand $/year. I must find an alternative therapy.

So far, I have read about magnesium valerian root and iron. Is there a max dose for any of them, especially Iron?

Signed,
Need help yesterday

jumpyowl
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Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2004 2:59 pm
Location: Yantis, TX
Contact:

Inexpensive therapy

Post by jumpyowl »

Dear Need help yesterday!

I have some ideas, perhaps you could use some of them.

Can you get insurance? If so I would advise you to get one. This is a chronic condition and at present incurable. Of course, RLS is a pre-existing condition for you but there may be a loophole for you somewhere.

Yes, there is a danger with taking too much iron. Usually orally taken iron can be very poorly absorbed and that protects many people. You should have your ferritin level checked. Unless they are low iron supplement may not help you.

There are less expensive medications quite effective for RLS. One of them is Hydrocodone. If you switch you have to be weaned off from Mirapex and Neurontin.

Discuss it with your doctor. Many will work with you to cut down medication costs.

Can you get your meds from Canada? If so, they are usually quite a bit less expensive.
Jumpy Owl

Guest

Rub a dub!!

Post by Guest »

A Hot Bubble bath works for me everytime! :P

Guest

Post by Guest »

Dear jumpyowl:

I have anguished over each of your suggestions before. The easiest to confront is getting my meds from Canada.

Recently, I began getting Medicaid, a program that does not cover meds. There is definitely no loophole there. I have another PC that has forced me to pay for my own meds for years. That medication, I cannot do without. It too is a brand name and new enough that a generic is a long way off. That drug alone costs me over #300/month.

It is true that you have to be weaned off of N and the M works. So, I have looked into adding them to the meds that I get from Canada. Even at that, they are ghastly expensive.

Pharmaceutical companies know that when there is no substitute for medications, they can command unscionable rates. And they have no problem doing that. Ostensibly, they claim that the money is necessary for research and that is partly true. What is not necessary are the obscenely large salaries that CEO's and their cronies make. Certainly if the research were not fully funded, God-forbid, they might actually have to consider accepting less than the Hollywood-director-size salaries to which they are accustomed. And the patient assistance programs they all offer to enhance their image costs them their profits. It is no wonder that they make the rules rigid enought that regardless of how poor someone is, they, too, find themselves without.

I am far from the only person who has had to choose between food and medication. I realize that money-hungry people have no problem forcing millions of us into that position, but I have a problem forcing my familiy to shoulder this. Sending as much money away every month for just my meds, would send a child to college - easily.

I have spent many years agonizing over this. I must find a less expensive way. For less than a week now, I have tried valerian root, melatonin, potassium and magnesium. And as I continue further reducing the neorontin, I will need to increase the others, which is why I want to know if there is a max dose and any side effects. As you know, there is no wuidebook for this process. It is "self-medicating."

guest

Various Drugs can actually cause RLS

Post by guest »

In response to Guest.............................
Guest Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 5:29 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My neurologist has me on Mirapex and Neurontin. They are brand names, extremely expensive and I do not have insturance. So far, I have paid a couple thousand $/year. I must find an alternative therapy.

So far, I have read about magnesium valerian root and iron. Is there a max dose for any of them, especially Iron?

Signed,
Need help yesterday [/quote][/quote]

Guest

RLS

Post by Guest »

Sorry about that last post.........something was missing.. :oops:
In response to:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My neurologist has me on Mirapex and Neurontin. They are brand names, extremely expensive and I do not have insturance. So far, I have paid a couple thousand $/year. I must find an alternative therapy.

So far, I have read about magnesium valerian root and iron. Is there a max dose for any of them, especially Iron?

Signed,
Need help yesterday

Some drugs can be responsible for RLS also.

becat
Posts: 2842
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:41 pm

vitminam and drug companines

Post by becat »

I just wanted to throw in 2 cents.
I want to throw a hug your way and hope, at least a pray that all will get better soon for you.
I do have a book that you might find interesting about vitamins and herbs. I've owned my copy for years, so I cannot give you an updated price. It's called A Prescription For Healing. By, James F. Balch MD and Phyllis A Balch. My copy was printed in 1997. They touch on RLS, in the insomina section. There are many "vitamin bibles" out there. You do not have to buy them, check them out from your local library. Make notes at home or copies of pages you find helpful.
As for the medication, I have a thought. I do not think it will be an easy task. In the past 5 years, our family has donated medications, new and unused in several states to private MDs. I know that there are medical missionaries that take these over to third world countries. I can't be sure what meds. They would receive on a regular basis. I would try calling the larger churches in your area. I would call the Med. Assc. of your state and ask if they have a program for low income, or noninsurance people that require $$$meds. . These are only Ideas, put your anger into action. You've heard the word "NO" before. right? So, no harm in trying. You could also look into becoming a lab rat in a clinical trail. They tend to pay you for your service and time. This site has information on trials going on right now.
About the drug companies. I am not sure, but these drugs may be under the patent law. I agree that the cost is outragous, but I do understand the cost in development. It's one of the things I thought about often. I have miagraines and I must say Imitrex was not cheap to develop. When it came out it was 70.00 a shot. I could not afford that by any means. BUT, it was out there. The same company is working on our RLS right now. GLAXOSmithKline. I can tell they have one of the best teams in research out there. I've watched them for years.
It's still not fair that so many go without and tons of meds. go to waste. I know that there is a balance. We just have to find it....today.

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