Is "Restless Leg Syndrome" just a new disorder created by pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs?

Question

Anyone notice that the drug commercials are getting out of control with things that never seemed to be a problem before? There is the pill for "depression that hurts your body physically"... I've been very depressed, but nothing on my body ever hurt due to my depression... and then there is the RLS; Restless Leg Syndrom commercials. I've had that needle feeling in my legs for about five minutes, but is this really a problem people are having. If so, let me know. It just appears as though the pharmacutical companies are trying very hard to create new sicknesses so that they could continue to push their drugs for profit. What happens is that a few million healthy people are beliving they are sick, and becoming drug users... and it's all okay, because the drugs are legal... (sarcasm)

Answer 1

I too am suspisious of pharmacuetical companies. After all it is a multibillion dollar industry every year. However RLS, or Restleg Leg Syndrome is real.

The cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown in most patients. However, restless leg syndrome has been associated with pregnancy, obesity, smoking, iron deficiency and anemia, nerve disease, polyneuropathy (which can be associated with hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, toxins, and many other conditions), other hormone disease, such as diabetes, and kidney failure (which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency). Some drugs and medications have been associated with restless leg syndrome including caffeine, alcohol, H2-histamine blockers (such as Zantac and Tagamet) and certain antidepressants (such as Elavil).

Occasionally, restless legs run in families. Recent studies have shown that restless leg syndrome appears to become more common with age.

There are many conditions which can mimic restless leg syndrome including muscle diseases, joint conditions, nerve problems, and circulation difficulties.

Now for those of us who harbor conspiracy theories involving drug companies you will be glad to know that drugs are not the first choice of treatment. Treatment of restless leg syndrome is first directed toward any underlying illness, if known. For example, a search for iron deficiency by blood testing to reveal underlying iron deficiency anemia. Reduction or elimination of caffeine and alcohol can be very helpful. Stopping smoking can also diminish symptoms. Getting better sleep and exercise can help some persons affected by restless legs. Other treatments that have been helpful for some patients include avoiding caffeine, warm/cold baths, electric nerve stimulation, oral magnesium, and acupuncture.

If none of that is effective medications used to treat restless leg syndrome include carbidopa-levodopa, opioids (such as propoxyphene) or tramadol (Ultram) for intermittent symptoms, carbamazepine, clonazepam, diazepam, triazolam, temazepam, baclofen, bromocriptine and clonidine. Most of these are old drugs that are used to treat other conditions. Also, recently, gabapentin (Neurontin) has been found helpful. The FDA has now approved ropinirole (Requip) for the treatment of restless leg syndrome.

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

I have RLS and have suffered with it for a very long time. It manifests itself in different ways in different people. For me, I have some of the worst symptoms. Whenever I sit still or lay down to sleep at night, I have an uncontrollable urge to move my legs. It's like feeling as if your legs are full of energy and ready to run a marathon, no matter how exhausted the rest of your body is. And the restlessness lasts for hours...never 5 minutes. I have lost many nights of sleep do to RLS. The newest medicines that are now out have made my symptoms virtually disappear. RLS is not new, it is not a fake disease, it is a serious problem for some people, and the pharmaceutical companies' new medicines have helped a lot of poeple.

Answer 3

Restless leg Syndrome is real. There is a drug that does help it. If you are one who has this problem; you would welcome some relief. It's so bad that you can't sleep. For some, it feels like little worms or something crawling in your legs. It lasts for hours and is not a fun thing by any means. There has been a drug for it for at least 15 years. I guess more people are having this problem is the reason we hear more about it. They show a pretty girl stretched out on a easy chair on TV. There are a lot of elderly people who suffer from this. TV glamorizes things to get your attention. There are bad side effects with almost every drug. Everything is not a scam.

Answer 4

Yes..it is real. Some cases are worse than others just like EVERYTHING else. Your headaches might be worse than your neighbors so should companies only make meds to help the severity of your neighbors headaches and not to your needs? I didnt think so. Then again maybe you don't really have headaches, you just think you do from watching an Advil commercial. You have to remember that companies are trying to sell their products...afterall it is a business, but I don't think any of them are making it up because they are FDA approved. Some people are just hyperchondriacts and think they have every illness in the book....I'm not blind to that fact. If you are having a hard time explaining to the doctor what youre feeling but then you see a commercial that you can relate to and they have something that can help you with what youre feeling, dont you think youd feel a little bit relieved to know there is something that might help you and mentioning it to your doc might lead to other possibilities to help you? I have RLS. I dont take medication for it b/c it's not that bad. Its very irritating but I feel that I can handle it without meds. Other people are far worse and I think that if it was any worse for me then I'd have to take something. For "depression that hurts your body", Ok, well for you that may sound ridiculous, but there isn't only one state of depression. People can get into some serious low points in their life where depression is more than just not being happy. It effects their entire body; mentally and physically. Now, I understand your point about making money and I agree that some people get carried away with some things, but I don't think these pharm. companies are making up illnesses just to profit. It's unethical. Drugs are abused by many people unfortunately, but for those who really need them its a life saver.

Answer 5

RLS is not a "created" disorder....I've suffered with it since 1983. Unless you have experienced TRUE restless leg syndrome you cannot possibly understand. It is much more than just five minutes of pins and needles...that happens because your leg falls asleep. RLS is very different. Your legs literally feel like they are going to walk away from your body, and it lasts for hours each night, and sometimes several nights out of each month. It's horrible. Thankfully, this disorder finally got a name and a treatment. For YEARS, my doctors thought I was crazy.

Answer 6

I have had RLS for years. It was first just a twitching in my legs when I would stand up alot and got worse. Mine would be so bad that they would twitch for no reason. It had been around for years but just never really studied. 9 times out of 10 if you kick the covers in your sleep or if you dont and the bed is in really bad disaray each morning you have RLS and it just has not gotten to the point that it is disturbing your sleep.

Answer 7

I don't think rls is new. i think that we have just learned to live with it. now yes the drug companies want to make more money to make up for there lawsuits. As far as drugs for depression I do think they are needed badly. exspecially in these times. and they should not make your body hurt if they do you are not on the right one. I personally would like to see pain creams that you can put on a part of your body that doesn't have to go threw your blood stream. there are a few out there, and I would like to see them used more.

Answer 8

I think that RLS is a real condition, but I actually think it is a side sffect of diabetes. When my blood sugar is low, I have terrible restless legs. It stops when I regulate my sugar. I think the hype could be to sell drugs, but I wonder about the efficacy of them.

Answer 9

This is what I think too. I just never took the time to say it as eloquently as you just have. But I am solidly in your corner, and I gotta add that I am appalled that the flip side of this trend seems to be modern parents not getting life-saving vaccinations for their children b/c they are scared their child will be the one in a million to have a negative reaction and this is endangering a whole generation. It is like being in Wonderland with Alice.

Answer 10

Yeah, your right. They are getting WAY out of control. But they know people will buy into it and spend their money on that crap. About the restless leg syndrome, I read some where that when you go to bed put a bar of soap in the bed with you and it somehow helps. Good Luck.