[medical.sleep]

[wispfox]

I appear to be attempting to collect as many minor neurologic things as possible. I knew I had restless leg syndrome. I did _not_ know it was neurologic (although it makes sense, if I'd ever thought about it), nor that it was probably the reason for my sleep troubles, nor than there was something that could be done.

Now, I get to try a drug which increases my dopamine levels, taking it an hour before sleep. I will be _so_ happy if sleep stops being difficult for me! And it'd be nice if this also happens to make the times when my legs get crampy and make me limp stop happening (although I forgot to ask the doc if it was related or not).

(incidentally, I'm beginning to run out of major neurotransmitters to have fucked up. Seratonin and melatonin get hit in the winter, and apparently RLS is dopamine related. Yes, _thank you_, fucked up brain chemicals! Now stop it. ;)

edit: Huh. Ok, apparently melatonin isn't a neurotransmitter, and is just a hormone whose precursor is seratonin. Keep things straight very well, I don't.

Comments

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Mirapex, by any chance?

I found the side-effects worse than the twitching it was supposed to fix.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Yes, that.

And, noted. I hope I don't find that!

(what were the side effects which caused you the most problems, if you don't mind me asking?)

[lesbianbutch04.livejournal.com]

Hey i know this is off Topic but laura might be coming back to Utec this friday. :-D she told me to spread the word...lol

Alisha "The Butch"

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Oh! Good! I'll be there, too. Yay. :)

[szasz.livejournal.com]

Running out? You've yet to work through oxytocin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine!

Somewhere I read that oxytocin is the one that participates in transmission of feelings of pleasure/love/cuddling/maternal-feeling, but I have no idea where. And I am not a neuroscientist. Brain chemistry is scary.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*laugh* I _was_ kidding.

Although, for all I know, the others _are_ fucked up somehow! But perhaps in a positive way! That would be nice. ;)

And yes. Brain chemistry _is_ scary.

[szasz.livejournal.com]

Heh, sometimes I wonder if people who gravitate toward nontraditional relationships, being poly, having a lot of cuddle friends, being big "touch-me sluts" etc are just all loaded up with oxytocin and serotonin somehow. That would be a positive, wouldn't it?

Blah, don't get me started on personality innateness. And yes, I knew you were kidding. :)

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

Well, I always knew you were restless. ;)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Indeed. This is certainly part of the reason I don't like being in planes - sitting still is _not_ fun!

[eisa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, know the feeling. (Ah the joys of discovering you had a childhood seizure disorder,and need meds that hit as many depression related chemicals as at all possible)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Yeah, was reading about that. Icky!

Interestingly, my mom thinks I had a childhood seizure disorder, too, but was never able to get it diagnosed.

Gotta wonder how much of my (and probably your!) various bits of weird neurology are related...

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

For leg cramps, potassium, calcium, and magnesium often help? Supplements or a multi with 100% of the RDA... or bananas!

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Yes, and no. I mean, it might help, but if it is (as I suspect) related to the RLS, I'm not so sure. I think I've tried these things (but may have not), and recall nothing about it. Which can mean that I didn't remember to try it, or that it had no useful effect.

Sometimes, my memory is really annoying, in how I categorize things, since 'didn't remember to try it' and 'had no effect' are often in the same category!

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

hee! Yeah, that was as an "if it's unrelated" thing -- if it's related, hopefully the same drug will deal with all of those lovely things!

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

The amino acid tyrosine increases dopamine levels... but some people find it is a stimulant because it also increases adrenaline and noradrenaline.

I can take it at night without sleep disturbance but it might not be a good idea for you.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

might not be a good idea for you.

Mmm, yeah. I don't think it's a good idea for me to try it, based on the probable stimulant effects. But noted!