Drugs That Cause Restless Leg Syndrome

What causes restless leg syndrome is still somewhat of a mystery to many doctors. There are some medical conditions that have been linked to it as well as some medications. There are certain medicines and drugs that may be associated with it. The following list summarizes a few of those medicines and drugs and hopefully will give you more knowledge about them.

Caffeine

• Almost 80 percent of the world consumes caffeine because it is found in so many foods and drinks that we take into our bodies. It has been found to be a cause of restless leg syndrome in some patients. Doctors recommend cutting back or totally avoiding using caffeine if you are diagnosed with this condition.

H2-histamine Blockers

• These histamine blockers, which include Zantac and Tagamet, are another possible cause of restless leg syndrome. Whenever possible, stay away from these medications. If needed, talk to your doctor and see if he can recommend a similar medicine that does not aggravate restless leg syndrome.

Antidepressants

• Certain antidepressants such as Elavil have also been found to enhance the symptoms associated with restless leg syndrome.

Alcohol

• Use of alcohol can cause an iron deficiency in the body, which can make the symptoms worse and may even slow the effectiveness of treatments.

Smoking Cigarettes

• Cigarettes are another drug that can increase the symptoms of this syndrome. Cigarettes have been found to deteriorate the health of people at a higher rate than non-smokers. They also cause deficiencies in iron and calcium in our bones, which heightens the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.