Know How an iCliniq Doctor Diagnosed the Cause of a Patient's Restless Legs

A patient who had been on antidepressants for seven years consulted a psychiatrist on iCliniq, as he had been suffering from restless legs whenever he worked out at gyms or during intense exercise. He said that he could not move his legs and had a burning sensation while working out, and started to feel normal when he did not go to the gym. He also said that he was taking Escitalopram and Flupentixol in the morning and a combination of Escitalopram and Clonazepam at night. He had been suffering from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for almost four years.

iCliniq's doctor went through the query and said that he was suffering from restless leg syndrome (RLS) and advised him to do a moderate amount of exercise, as heavy exercise could worsen his condition. Our doctor advised him to massage his legs and apply a hot or cold pack to ease the pain. The doctor asked the patient to take a complete blood count (CBC) to rule out iron deficiency anemia as it can cause RLS. He also said that antidepressant medications might aggravate RLS, but those cannot be stopped. He added that Clonazepam deals with restlessness in case of a severe problem, so he advised the patient to take a maximum of 1 mg in 24 hours.

The patient returned with the blood reports after a few days and said that he was feeling better by increasing the dose of Clonazepam and practicing moderate exercise.

Our doctor went through the reports and said that he indeed has iron deficiency anemia, so he asked the patient to start taking iron tablets daily in the afternoon after lunch for three months. He instructed the patient not to take these supplements on an empty stomach, as it could lead to GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Also, our doctor advised him to take foods rich in iron, such as green leafy vegetables, red meat, etc., to help with the condition.

After a few days, the patient reverted, saying that his restless legs improved and he could sleep properly after two weeks of iron supplements. He was also grateful for our doctor's diagnosis and detailed explanation and said he would follow all the instructions suggested by him.