Going off requip (ropinirole)

[Stuartep121]

My doctor has been reducing Requip today was the first day I went on only 4 mg. Tonight I can’t sleep due to what I think is dyskinesia. It’s mainly in my left leg But it is troublesome enough to be keeping me up awake at three in the morning. Should I self diagnose and take some additional ropinirole now or gut it out and call the neurologist first thing tomorrow morning?

[park_bear]

What dose were you on?

[monast]

I dont know why your doctor is reducing your Requip? I have ben using Requip depot for many years now, I am up on. 14 mg. My neurologist told me to take all The 14 mg in The morning because I have too much nightmares. I still have bad nights often. If you have lotus of pain during The night I would take some Paracetamol to reduse The pain. Good luck

[moonsake10 in reply to monast]

14 mg would knock me out..I have a hard time staying awake on 1 mg!

[Parkie1955]

Definitely call the Neuro first. Sometimes Ropinirole will increase symptoms related to restless leg syndrome.

[johntPM]

Stuart writes " I can’t sleep due to what I think is dyskinesia". Are you sure? Dyskinesia is usually due to a high dose, not a reduced one. Instead, it may be dystonia. I think your downward titration may be too rapid. What is your present dose? If you were on 8mg/day of ropinirole, you could move first of all to 6mg, and then only when that is working move to 4mg/day. Alternatively it may be worth replacing some of the reduced ropinirole with a levodopa equivalent dose. There is roughly speaking a 20:1 scaling factor between the two drugs: 5mg ropinirole approximates to 100mg levodopa/carbidopa.

[Hikoi]

I’m not sure why you are reducing or how long you have been on this med? Was it theneuro who decreased your amount? Any time I have reduced-an agonist drug eg ropinerole i have had very noticable gait problems about day three. There are known side effects to reducing this drug. I like what Johntpm writes however I will add that you may get some relief increasing levadopa but You cant just replace requip with levadopa. it’s not that simple.

Sleep problems are part of the pd territory.

[Hikoi]

Dont know what a troublesome left leg means? Is it like a tremor or could it be restless leg syndrome which is often treated with ropinerole.

[Lambee19]

4mg i a lot i only take .5 mg and I tak2 2 pills 3 X a a day 6 a day an that knocks me out makes me very sleepy ..about an hour after taking them for about an hour i takr the pin I take my levidopa/carbidopda 125 mgs 2 3X a day ,,,,so my advice would be to stop taking them and ask you rDr to ease you onto them starting at a lower dosage

[Precious44]

I don't understand why your Requip is being reduced. I have been on it for 10 years and they have only increased it. Ask more questions.

[marmaduke123]

Hi Stuart I had a similiar experience where my neurologist decided to wean me off 12 mg ropinerole and up my stalevo. After the 3rd or 4 th day I started to get the restless leg syndrome something I hadn't experienced for many years. I felt awful couldn't sleep couldn't sit for so many nights, just kept walking like a zombie around the house. At one stage I Had to wake my husband to walk with me outside it was so bad. I was exhausted to the point I found it hard to breath. I ended up going through a and e as it was the weekend and begged them to be put back on the ropinerole. Luckily there was a neurologist on duty in the wards and he agreed to giving me 2 mg until I saw my own neurologist. That 2 mg brought an instant relief and I was never so grateful. Yes I think the original 12 mg was to much for me given that I felt so good on 2 mg and would have been content to stay on a low dose. The funny part is Somehow I've now been brought back up to 10 mg...!!

what I'm trying to say is doctors don't always know best. Listen to your body and if something doesn't feel right stand up and be counted tell them what you feel you need. Parkinsons is a long haul illness you are an important part of a multi disciplinary team. Let them take their lead from you as every person is affected differently.. Doctors maintain stalevo is the gold Jewel in the crown but I give my vote to ropinerole...

[Stuartep121]

20 originally down to 8 And now down to four in a month I will be at two and then a month later out of it altogether

[Hikoi in reply to Stuartep121]

You might find some answers if you check out DAWS - dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome.

[gypsy]

Hi Stuart, when this happened to me my neuro put me on amantadine, it did the trick.

[PKLF]

Call the doctor.