Anti-smoking drug calms restless legs

Nicky · Post by **Nicky** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:35 pm

Did anyone else see the small article in the health section of yesterdays (24/3/09) Daily Mail? A dreadful paper usually, I couldn't get a link but it says 'A drug that helps smokers quit may ease the symptoms of restless legs. In one American study a patient was symptom free in three days." It continues:
"The drug bupropion, an antidepressant, works by increasing levels of three brain chemicals - dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. It's biggest effect is on dopamine. In a trial, 100 patients with restless legs are being given the drug or placebo to take each night for six weeks.
Anyone know anymore?
Nicky

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:43 pm

It's a commonly used drug in the US - not sure about in Europe, Nicky. It's trade name is Wellbutrin in the US.

It's used for depression in some and is considered the first med to try if you have RLS and need something for depression because it usually doesn't worsen RLS and sometimes it actually helps it.

I recently tried it. It did help the RLS so I didn't need as much medication (but I still needed it). Unfortunately it also gave me a relatively constant headache and I felt very quiet and couldn't handle any activity around me. I felt like I wanted to be in a monastery or somewhere similar where I didn't have to see anyone or interact at all. All interactions were somewhat painful.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:44 pm

This is the anti-depressant called Wellbutrin. It is recognized as an RLS friendly anti-depressant, meaning it usually doesn't aggravate RLS at all, like almost every other AD does..

I find it odd that it would actually decrease RLS though, as at most it should have little to no impact on symptoms. This may be placebo effect all around, but perhaps another member here may know more about this.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:04 am

I think Wellbutrin is one of the drugs that they are no completely sure how it works....but if it interacts with dopamine in any way, it seems completely logical that it would help some people, doesn't it? Not sure why you're thinking it wouldn't help. Why would you think that, Zach? (Not putting you on the spot, just thinking it seems logical, so maybe I'm missing something).

SquirmingSusan · Post by **SquirmingSusan** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:09 am

Wellbutrin helped my RLS as well, and especially helped with PLMs. But it made me completely crazy in other ways...

cornelia · Post by **cornelia** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:28 am

It helped me as well for RLS, but I had a very bad reaction and discontinued it.
Corrie

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:31 pm

Well just going off what I had heard and experienced.. Although I don't think I was on it for more than a week or so. A lot of AD's seem to have some kind of effect on dopamine production in some way, I think, and I've just never heard that Wellbutrin, while being RLS friendly, actually helped with symptoms.

Post by **Polar Bear** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:44 pm

Hi Nicky
Off the top of my head, and without checking this, I think Wellbrutin may be known here in the UK as Zyban which is licenced for use to help folk give up smoking. When doc was thinking that I have fibro he said amnitriptiline worked for fibro but wasn't good for rls and we were reluctant to go that route. I suggested Wellbrutin and he said it wasn't licenced in UK as an anti depressant and so couldn't prescribe it for rls. i.e. only for use to help cease smoking.

I hope I remember correctly here.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:09 pm

Betty, what you said makes sense - it is called Zyban for quitting smoking, and I remember you mentioning your doctor couldn't give it to you.