advil - Restless Leg Syndrome Message Board

BatesMillr · 09-22-2003, 11:21 AM

Does anyone know why advil works for some RLS sufferers? I've not slept through one night in over a year. Then, two weeks ago, I had to take advil for a sore muscle and slept the night. Thought it was a fluke so I took it again. Sure enough it worked. In the past two weeks, I didn't take advil one night and guess what? I didn't sleep. It's been WONDERFUL to sleep through the night but I'm not stupid and wonder how long this "bandaid" will keep working? But while it's working, it feels like a blessing : ) Now I'm really curious about "why" it works (if only temporarily). Any one know? Thanks

BatesMillr · 09-27-2003, 09:45 PM

Looks like I wrote this email when I was half asleep : )

Anyway, almost three weeks and still sleeping EVERY night with an advil at bedtime. Wondering how an anti-inflamatory helps RLS? I thought the cause had to do with iron deficiency in the brain???

Anyone?

italungrl · 09-29-2003, 05:17 AM

Sounds like it probably has something to do with the nerve impulses when you take pain relievers they intercept along the line to the brain.

SJPete · 10-19-2003, 06:47 PM

I take Advil or just plain ibuprofen for inflammatory arthritis pain and have found that it helps me sleep. Unfortunately it also tends to make my ankles swell if I stay on it too long so I have to switch to Tylenol or aceteminiphen. In the hospital they gave me Advil to help me sleep so I guess there's something to it.

BatesMillr · 10-20-2003, 11:13 PM

Advil worked everynight for about a month. Then I started waking after a few hours with RLS and needed to take another advil to get back to sleep again. I've decided to stop taking it every night and save it for those really bad nights, or when I'm traveling. Went back to sleeping with a cold pack on my legs. If I put it on my calves as soon as I lay down, I usually sleep through the night. Don't know what I'm doing to the nerves in my legs but it's worked for the past two years so I'm going to keep doing it. Taking a pill was a little easier (and more comfortable). But I thank god the ice continues to work most nights. Good luck all!