Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Been a long time sufferer of RLS. First started with my pregnancies over twenty years ago. Has been quite tolerable since.
Just recently my GP put me on bystolic for high blood pressure. Immediately my BP lowered and my pulse was averaging about 55. During this time my RLS worsened to the point of no longer being able to manage. I suffered with myoclonus throughout my entire body and for the entire day. I stayed on the BP med for only eleven days. My doctor let me go off them because I was suffering too many side effects (dizziness, cold etc).
The very first day off the BP med I felt so much better. The body jerks completely subsided. I was finally able to relax and sit still. Now, I don't know if the RLS worsened because of the bystolic or because of the hypotension. My GP doesn't know too much about RLS, I will be asking her for a referral to see a specialist.
I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences with BP meds or hypotension.

I don't have any experience with BP meds because I have always had lifelong hypotension. I do not remember seeing anything correlating the two, but recent (and continuing) work on hypoxia and differences in blood flow in RLS patients and others MIGHT be an indication of some sort of relationship. But that is pure speculation on my part and is extrapolating to a conclusion from far too little information.

Bystolic is a BP Med in the beta blocker class. Beta blockers have wide ranging effects in all body systems. I don't have any specific information on bystolic, but the class is known to decrease dopamine levels (depression is a known major side effect) and so it is not surprising that RLS would worsen.

Generally, BP meds of the ARB class have the fewest side effects. If you need a BP med you might ask your doctor to use one of those. The most commonly used is losartan. I take losartan and it doesn't worsen my RLS.