Insomnia

[graciebes]

Im on pramapexole for my rls but having trouble sleeping .Its getting worse i get 2/3 hours a night and thats uually broken sleep.Doea anyone know if the tablets causes insomnia.I am going to make an appointment at the docs as its been going on for too long now and feel tired most of the time.

[Madlegs1]

Sounds like you're getting augmentation - check out rlshelp.org or rlsuk. Is the insomnia due to restless legs? Check out changing to Tramadol. Google it for RLS. Good luck.

[funnyfennel]

I am also on pramipexole and rarely sleep more that 3 hours at a time. But because it controls the RLS I feel that I can rest. I tried Zoplicone as well but it didn't work . Will be interested to hear other comments on actual sleep.

[graciebes in reply to funnyfennel]

I dont have any trouble getting to sleep as i go to bed at the same time each evening,its the staying asleep thts the problem.i cant say if it my rls or not but i want to go to the loo.But i am so tired during the day and ready for bed about 6pm .

[graciebes]

What is augmentation ,I keep hearing say it but don't know what it means ,

[MATTIELUKE in reply to graciebes]

When a drug (a dopamine agonist which are the ones used to treat RLS) begins to quit working and actually starts making your symptoms worse.

[mysterylady60]

I suffer from insomnia too, but only occasionally, never put it down to the Pramipexole though, and yes constantly tired, very hard with working as well

[graciebes in reply to mysterylady60]

I'm retired , but found as I have got older my RLS is worse , where I have to take 2 tablets now not 1 , sometimes 3 if really bad.My spanish doc gave me pramipexole also but the dose I had in the uk ,they don't do it here , so I have a stronger one now and only supposed to take 1 but sometimes i have to take 2.My legs are off while I am writing this , feel like cutting my legs off , makes you so miserable .

[Madlegs1]

Mirapex is not a great solution for RLS - you tend to need more as time goes on and then you are into nastier side effects.

Augmentation is this process of the restlessness coming back at different times and affecting more of the body- not just legs. Do not be tempted to increase the Mirapex dosage as it will be more difficult to come off it when inevitably you will have to. Unless you have Parkinsons.

I am on Mirapex 0.188. - I'm getting some augmentation and insomnia and am just about to change to Tramadol ER- as much for back pain as anything- but I'm taking the opportunity to get off the Mirapex rather than wait for the inevitable. Will keep posted.

Regarding the insomnia- if your Dr will prescribe oxynorm or oxycontin - at low dose- that will get you through the night for the short term while you can research other strategies for the RLS. The UK site and the Southern California site have a lot of good information - especially meds to avoid. Many patients are prescribed medication for sleep which are prime restless legs triggers.

Good vibes.

[Pippins2 in reply to Madlegs1]

Good information Madlegs x

[oldblue]

hi gracie, i took pramp. for couple of years. i gave them up about 2 months ago and i still can't get any sleep. i'm lucky to get 3hrs. sleep in 2 or 3 days. i don't have an answer. i've been taking a sleep aid for about 2 weeks. it helps sometimes. i also take 1 tylenol pm with it. the sleep aid is called emergen-c u might want to try it. god bless blair--aka old blue

[Pippins2 in reply to oldblue]

Hi Oldblue, the Tylenol pm contains Diphenhydramine and that will make RLS much worse for vast majority of us so it could be making your symptoms worse too . Good to see your name back on here again, ...Pipps x

[KAYEx22parker]

Hi theres a great video on YouTube. Its called RLS Augmentaion by Dr Early from the John Hopkins Medical Centre in USA. I also joined the Facebook RLS forum called RLS SUCKS and everyone is so helpful & supportive. You may like to read my posts from day 4 to day 14 of Withdrawal from Pramipexole. xx Kaye

[zach91]

I've been having sleeping problems too

[Pange123]

If you have just started on Pramipexole then you can't have augmentation yet. I started on it 2 months ago and a couple of days in, I had 5 night without ANY sleep (I was sleeping before despite my leg and arm), 2 months down the line it is a little better and I'm getting just over half the sleep I used to get, which is something. I am thinking of stopping this treatment and trying muscle relaxants or prescription co-codamol instead because I can't function, getting up at between 4 and 5 am every morning and I need more sleep. For me I think mt sleep issues are very likely to be a side effect of Pramipexole. Like you, I CAN get to sleep but don't get enough for some reason. This can not be a healthy situation and as there are other treatment options, I'm thinking of trying them.