Mirapex

[Soren]

I am on mirapex. If I go on a different med do I gradually stop the mirapex first?

[Hidden]

If you are going to take another class of med as in Requip or the Neupro Patch then you can switch without weaning. What dose of Mirapex are you taking right now because if that is high, then switching and starting at the lowest dose of a new dopamine can make a difference. The starting dose (which everyone should start with, whatever med) might not be enough. If you are going to try a different med altogether then usually coming off the Mirapex can be hard to do, (withdrawals) and most people have to take a strong pain med to help.

[Soren in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I am on 0.5MG four times a day.

[Hidden in reply to Soren]

I would see your doctor for more advise on what you do next. I can only give information on what i know.

[Pete-1]

I' have been told this is not necessary, you may swap straight away to an equivalent dose of the new drug. This does assume that you are changing to a drug of the same type, e.g. from one dopamine agonist such as Mirapex to another e.g. Ropinirole.

[Hidden]

The problem is, the recommended dose for Mirapex and Requip (pramipexole and ropinerole) has been lowered, because of augmentation. So if on a high dose of one of those and you switch to another equivalent dose then you will be back to augmentation quite quickly. The recommended dose for Mirapex is now only .25mg and Requip is 1mg. and that is once a day. Or you take another class of med along side it to keep the dose down and hope it works. Or you change from the dopamine agonists completely.

[Hidden]

Elissse, In the USA, there are still many doctors that will prescribe to the doses that are higher..some will go up to 3mg claiming that the user will get better sleep. I had a recent doctor visit to talk about this because I have restlessness in my back, booty..lol I could go dancing all.night... My doctor thought to split the dose half in the daytime a. half before bed.

[Hidden]

Yikes, i can only tell it as i have heard Dr. B say it. Alot of doctors dont understand augmentation or how when it happens how awful it is for the sufferer. They probably havent heard yet of the new recommended dosage. Its up to us as the people who will most probably at some time will have augmentation to inform our doctors. Dr. B has said, that if the lower dose doesnt do it for you, its not the med for you, or try adding another med to the new low dose that can help taking two low doses of two meds, one being a dopamine agonist. It helps delay any augmentation. I sometimes get it in the back of my shoulder and that drive me nuts. Much worse than in the legs and thats bad enough.. at least we can pace for relief. x