WARNING: DRUGS TO AVOID FOR RLS/PLMD PATIENTS
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:35 am
Nadia already referred to this reference and I thought it would be convenient to have the list of medications on this forum that are known to exacerbate the symptoms of RLS/PLMD:
Caffeine
Some common medications with caffeine in the US include: Cafergot, Darvon, Esgic, Exedrin, Fioricet, Fiorinal, Migralam, Norgesic, Wigraine, Anolaor, Butalbital, Femcet, Medigesic, Pacaps, Repan, and Synalgos-DC.
Antihistamines
Over-the-Counter: brompheniramine, clemastine fumarate, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine and triprolidine
US Medications containing:
- brompheniramine: Dimetapp, Drixoral,
- chlorpheniramine include: Chlor-trimeton, Comtrex, Corciden, Sinutab Sinus and Allergy, Theraflu, Tylenol Allergy Multi Symptom
- Clemastine fumarate: Tavist
- doxylamine include: Tylenol Cold Nighttime, Nyquil (all formulas), Vicks
- dyphenhydramine inlcude: Benadryl, Pediacare, Triaminic NightTime, Tylenol PM
- triprolidine include: Actifed
Cough syrups may contain antihistamines as well as sleep aids such as Sominex (diphenhydramine), Nytol (diphenhydramine), Unisom (doxylamine).
Prescription: Take with caution (work for some RLSers, not for others): Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin (loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine)
Antidepressants
The tricyclic and serotonin uptake inhibitors can worsen for a percentage of RLSers. Even if you can't take one, you may do fine on another. Trial and error is the only way to tell. The percentage of people having difficulty ranges from 0 to 30% in one study.
Antinauseants
This class of drugs includes: Anitvert, Atarax, Benadryl, Bonine, Compazine, Phenergan, Thorazine, Tigan, Trilafon and Vistaril.
Domperidone (not available in the US and available over the counter as Motilium 10 in Mexico) , does not cause worsening of RLS symptoms.
Reglan (metoclopramide) should be avoided.
Kytril (granisetron hydrochloride) and Zofran (ondansetron hydrochloride) work differently, should not effect RLS, are available in the US, but are very expensive. *Dolasetron mesylate was included in the Hening, Buchfurer and Lee book, but not on the So Cal Website.
Cough syrups
OTC: dextromethorphan and guaifenesin are fine. When combined, such as something to help cough and congestion, they may not be fine. Read ingredients for the ones listed earlier.
Prescription: Phenergan with codeine contains phenergan, which can bother RLS. The ow dose of codeine in it may or may not prevent it from bothering your RLS. Tussionex is combined with hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine; the strong dose of hydrocodone should resolve any RLS from he chlorpheniramine. Hycomine is similar to Tussionex.
Hycotuss does not contain any RLS worsening medications.
Antipsychotic medications
This class of drugs includes: Clozaril, Compazine, Haldol, Loxitane, Mellaril, Moban, Navane, Prolixin, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Serentil, Stelazine, Thorazine, and Trilafon.
Lithium, a drug helpful in manic-depressive disorders, can worsen RLS.
[b]Bladder Control drugs[/b]
Ditropan should be used with caution in RLS sufferers as it there are reports of problems.
Alcohol
Individual tolerance can vary considerably (many may not be bothered at all). Use with caution until you determine if it bothers you.
Alcohol can interact with some of the drugs used for RLS, particularly opioids. As many drugs can interact with many other substances, including non-pharmacological ones, please always check with your pharmacist or using an online drug interaction checker.
Information copied from the Southern California Support Group. Post updated in February, 2009
Caffeine
Some common medications with caffeine in the US include: Cafergot, Darvon, Esgic, Exedrin, Fioricet, Fiorinal, Migralam, Norgesic, Wigraine, Anolaor, Butalbital, Femcet, Medigesic, Pacaps, Repan, and Synalgos-DC.
Antihistamines
Over-the-Counter: brompheniramine, clemastine fumarate, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine and triprolidine
US Medications containing:
- brompheniramine: Dimetapp, Drixoral,
- chlorpheniramine include: Chlor-trimeton, Comtrex, Corciden, Sinutab Sinus and Allergy, Theraflu, Tylenol Allergy Multi Symptom
- Clemastine fumarate: Tavist
- doxylamine include: Tylenol Cold Nighttime, Nyquil (all formulas), Vicks
- dyphenhydramine inlcude: Benadryl, Pediacare, Triaminic NightTime, Tylenol PM
- triprolidine include: Actifed
Cough syrups may contain antihistamines as well as sleep aids such as Sominex (diphenhydramine), Nytol (diphenhydramine), Unisom (doxylamine).
Prescription: Take with caution (work for some RLSers, not for others): Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin (loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine)
Antidepressants
The tricyclic and serotonin uptake inhibitors can worsen for a percentage of RLSers. Even if you can't take one, you may do fine on another. Trial and error is the only way to tell. The percentage of people having difficulty ranges from 0 to 30% in one study.
Antinauseants
This class of drugs includes: Anitvert, Atarax, Benadryl, Bonine, Compazine, Phenergan, Thorazine, Tigan, Trilafon and Vistaril.
Domperidone (not available in the US and available over the counter as Motilium 10 in Mexico) , does not cause worsening of RLS symptoms.
Reglan (metoclopramide) should be avoided.
Kytril (granisetron hydrochloride) and Zofran (ondansetron hydrochloride) work differently, should not effect RLS, are available in the US, but are very expensive. *Dolasetron mesylate was included in the Hening, Buchfurer and Lee book, but not on the So Cal Website.
Cough syrups
OTC: dextromethorphan and guaifenesin are fine. When combined, such as something to help cough and congestion, they may not be fine. Read ingredients for the ones listed earlier.
Prescription: Phenergan with codeine contains phenergan, which can bother RLS. The ow dose of codeine in it may or may not prevent it from bothering your RLS. Tussionex is combined with hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine; the strong dose of hydrocodone should resolve any RLS from he chlorpheniramine. Hycomine is similar to Tussionex.
Hycotuss does not contain any RLS worsening medications.
Antipsychotic medications
This class of drugs includes: Clozaril, Compazine, Haldol, Loxitane, Mellaril, Moban, Navane, Prolixin, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Serentil, Stelazine, Thorazine, and Trilafon.
Lithium, a drug helpful in manic-depressive disorders, can worsen RLS.
[b]Bladder Control drugs[/b]
Ditropan should be used with caution in RLS sufferers as it there are reports of problems.
Alcohol
Individual tolerance can vary considerably (many may not be bothered at all). Use with caution until you determine if it bothers you.
Alcohol can interact with some of the drugs used for RLS, particularly opioids. As many drugs can interact with many other substances, including non-pharmacological ones, please always check with your pharmacist or using an online drug interaction checker.
Information copied from the Southern California Support Group. Post updated in February, 2009