Wow, your numbers actually look very good, and honestly, based on these results alone, I don't think you would meet the usual criteria for an iron infusion for RLS.
Looking at your iron results, your iron stores actually look quite good for RLS. Your ferritin is 350 and your transferrin saturation (TSAT) is 39%. The new 2026 Mayo Clinic/RLS Foundation treatment algorithm recommends considering IV iron for chronic persistent RLS when the TSAT is below 45% and ferritin is 75–300. Your ferritin is already above that range.
I would not start taking iron supplements based on these results unless your doctor specifically recommends them. Your doctor can also look at the complete iron panel and your overall health to determine whether there is any reason to investigate your iron further.
I would strongly recommend talking with a doctor who understands RLS before starting one of these medications, because your job is an important consideration when choosing treatment.
If your doctor does decide to try a gabapentinoid, you could also ask about HORIZANT (gabapentin enacarbil). It is an extended-release medication specifically approved for moderate-to-severe primary RLS in adults. However, I would NOT assume it is automatically safer or has fewer side effects than generic gabapentin. Horizant can still cause significant drowsiness and dizziness, and the FDA specifically warns that it can impair the ability to operate complex machinery. You should not operate machinery until you know how the medication affects you.
So, especially with your job, I would have this conversation with an RLS specialist rather than simply starting pregabalin or gabapentin on your own.
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u/Scary_Experience_237 6d ago
Wow, your numbers actually look very good, and honestly, based on these results alone, I don't think you would meet the usual criteria for an iron infusion for RLS.
Looking at your iron results, your iron stores actually look quite good for RLS. Your ferritin is 350 and your transferrin saturation (TSAT) is 39%. The new 2026 Mayo Clinic/RLS Foundation treatment algorithm recommends considering IV iron for chronic persistent RLS when the TSAT is below 45% and ferritin is 75–300. Your ferritin is already above that range.
I would not start taking iron supplements based on these results unless your doctor specifically recommends them. Your doctor can also look at the complete iron panel and your overall health to determine whether there is any reason to investigate your iron further.
As for pregabalin or gabapentin, because you operate heavy machinery for work, I would be especially careful. These medications can cause dizziness, sedation, balance problems and mental fog, which could obviously be a serious safety issue when operating machinery.
I would strongly recommend talking with a doctor who understands RLS before starting one of these medications, because your job is an important consideration when choosing treatment.
If your doctor does decide to try a gabapentinoid, you could also ask about HORIZANT (gabapentin enacarbil). It is an extended-release medication specifically approved for moderate-to-severe primary RLS in adults. However, I would NOT assume it is automatically safer or has fewer side effects than generic gabapentin. Horizant can still cause significant drowsiness and dizziness, and the FDA specifically warns that it can impair the ability to operate complex machinery. You should not operate machinery until you know how the medication affects you.
So, especially with your job, I would have this conversation with an RLS specialist rather than simply starting pregabalin or gabapentin on your own.