Sleep Apnea and RLS

In August I was told that I had Sleep Apnea complicated by Restless Legs Syndrome. My CPAP readings are now good and I am sleeping much better but I can't really tell that my daily energy levels are any better than before I started CPAP therapy. The reason, of course, is that my nightly dosage of 900 mg of the drug Gabapentin for RLS is carrying over into my day time hours. I'm hoping that I will eventually gain tolerance to the drug. For right now, however, I hope that I can gain some wisdom from those of you with this same combination of symptoms.

I need to say that a complete physical exam with total blood work offered no obvious reason for Sleep Apnea or RLS.

Thank you for any comments you might share.

Dan

Marsengill wrote:In August I was told that I had Sleep Apnea complicated by Restless Legs Syndrome. My CPAP readings are now good and I am sleeping much better but I can't really tell that my daily energy levels are any better than before I started CPAP therapy. The reason, of course, is that my nightly dosage of 900 mg of the drug Gabapentin for RLS is carrying over into my day time hours. I'm hoping that I will eventually gain tolerance to the drug. For right now, however, I hope that I can gain some wisdom from those of you with this same combination of symptoms.

I need to say that a complete physical exam with total blood work offered no obvious reason for Sleep Apnea or RLS.

Thank you for any comments you might share.

Dan

Lots of people on the forum have or have discussed RLS over the years.
My wife's cancer doctor who is also a hematologist did some blood work on her and suggested that she take some OTC Iron supplements (65 mg.) and that seemed to have helped her RLS. She's not on this therapy, but has believed she has had some RLS from time to time.


Den

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Did your blood tests include a ferritin level? It is commonly advised that those with RLS keep their ferritin level up around 100. Much lower is considered normal in the general population not dealing with RLS. Most routine blood tests will include magnesium. Was your magnesium normal? Some claim Vitamin D matters, others say B vitamins help nerve function. Give yourself the best nutritional and lifestyle support you can, including avoiding caffeine, and check any meds you may be on that might cause RLS as a side effect. I guess the unknown here is if the medicine is causing your daytime symptoms, or if your medicine is not effective for your RLS and your sleep in not of the quality to make you feel rested.

I take Gabapentin for RLS. 900 mg seems like an awful lot. I take 300 on the nights my legs bother me before I go to bed and I have next day hangover from that. No wonder you feel tired