Stopping Opiods seems to cause MS flareups

[Marky1017]

Ive taken Opiods primarily for RLS(restless leg syndrome) and have had to abruptly stop 2x in the last year. Each time was followed by 2-3 week flareup where I could barely get out of bed. I thought this was a coincidence the 1st time but now am wondering if this caused it. Has anyone heard of this problem before?

[bxrmom]

If possible, I believe you should be tapering off Opioids so as not to cause a withdrawal. Is there something else you can take for the RLS? I have heard of putting a bar of soap under your mattress but have never tried it. Some people swear by it.

[jackiesj]

Marky, opiods are very tricky like getting off any meds. MS and my legs seem to be the worst but cutting back with doc supervision may help.After 4 years of a doc just treating me i had them do an MRI of lower back and suprise, bulging discs a nodule etc.Why they dont check first before meds i have no clue.I continually had to ask even though good insurance.Now i continue to be the consumer that has to reach resolution not labels. at 66 each day so precious....to anyone...i want to live a good life and out of bed as much as i can.Stigma with opiods has national attention but it takes time to replace.I also found that potassium calcium etc were way off leading to spasms( restless leg too.Looking for a balance too.best wishes.

[MarkUpnorth]

Work with your doctor to get off the options. I used a couple non-opiod drugs. But found that after trying restless leg cream...magnesium being the "active ingredient", magnesium citrate works best for me, taken 2x/day, once about an hour or 2 before bedtime.

[mrsmike9]

Have you spoken to your doctor?

[Tazmanian]

Check with your neurologist good luck

[wolfmom21fl]

first, why are you being given opioids for RLS as there are other drugs available that are not addictive and very effective? Second, it would seem that abruptly stopping opioids after any length of time like this would cause a withdrawal that might be seen like a relapse... Withdrawal symptoms are not unlike MS relapse symptoms with many that are exactly alike.. weakness, fatigue, shakiness, tremors, cognitive brain fog, etc... I have to be honest here.. i have never heard of opioids being prescribed for restless leg before. It's really frightening to me. Not sure why you had to stop abruptly but that is never a good thing with opioids if you have been on them for any length of time

[Marky1017 in reply to wolfmom21fl]

I have severe RLS and have gone through most if not all other non opiod options and they dont work. Suprisingly the use of opiods for RLS is becoming more common as they are very effective and cause much less side effects( sounds wierd but true) than most other treatments longterm. If you are interested go to the RLS site here to read more about they whys and why not of opiods for RLS. What I went through can lasts 3 weeks and I can barely function until it passes. Withdrawl symptoms should not last that long or be that severe as the dosage I am on is quite low. I was just wondering if anyone else had to abruptly stop using opiods and than had a subsequent MS flareup.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to Marky1017]

I take opioids for pain. A long acting one as well as an immediate release one for break through pain the extended release doesn't control. I have RLS as well as tremors and other parkinson like movement disorders. I take topiramate and propranolol for the tremor and other movements and ropinirole for RLS. the combo of those 3 drugs together keep the movement somewhat under control. The tremors in my hands are the worse. I also am plagued by hiccups and the jerky leg thing as I am falling asleep. these are myoclonic jerk movements that do not seem to be helped by anything i take. I do not usually need to take the break through pain meds during the day unless there is a bad weather front coming in so IDK if the opioids I take are of any value to my movement disorders or not. I know some days my tremor is so bad I can barely eat, have to use a straw in the cup to drink, and cannot operate my computer mouse at all because the shaking is so bad.