Question: My husband has had restless legs syndrome for years, but it has gotten much worse recently. He takes Ropinirole every day, as needed. Sometimes he takes several doses a day, but he’s still not getting any rest. Can you help us?
Dr. Blaylock's Answer:
Restless legs syndrome appears to be caused by a deficiency of dopamine in the deep nuclei of the brain (striatum). The medication he is taking increases dopamine levels in this area of the brain.
An alternative is the supplement acetyl-L-carnitine, which has also been shown to increase dopamine levels in the striatum of the brain for a much longer time, and promotes brain-cell healing. Take it at a low dose to start: 500 mg twice a day, about 30 minutes before a meal. Later, you can increase the dose to 1,000 mg three times a day.
R-lipoic acid (200 mg) three times a day should be taken along with acetyl-L-carnitine.
Magnesium also eases restless legs (the time-release formula by www.jigsawhealth.com is best). In some people, a low iron level can cause the problem and a person suffering from restless legs should have a blood iron test.
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