Help

[RegBlunt28]

sounds like your a great bunch of people, thank you so much for all your help & kind words. I do have to ask what is augmentation?

[Hidden]

Its like an orgasm you'll know it when it happens!

But on a serious note it is a worsening of the symptoms brought about by the drug used to alleviate them.

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

not quiiiiiiiiiiiiite like that! LOL

[nightdancer]

Augmentation literally means "worsening" of something, and in RLS land, it means worsening of symptoms brought about by taking doses that are too high for the dopamine meds, which are Ropinerole (Requip) and Mirapex (Pramipexole). Those are the main ones in that class, also Sinemet, which is not used as much these days, it will make you augment faster than the others. This happens when a dose does not seem to work, so the doctor ups the dose and keeps on upping it, which is the exact wrong thing to do. So, if you are NOT taking the dopamine class of meds, it is nothing for a person to worry about. There are recommended therapeutic doses by international RLS experts and researchers, and if we go above those doses, 99% of the time, we are asking for trouble. But, augmentation is a VERY common topic in all the RLS groups, anywhere on the internet, like Facebook, Yahoo, etc, as well as this group.

[Hidden in reply to nightdancer]

Well my wife says satisfying me just leads to me looking for it again - a worsening state of affairs - according to my Mrs

[Pippins2 in reply to Hidden]

Raffs have you been on the Kratom again? Lol x

[Hidden in reply to Pippins2]

That is my super duper all else has failed bring out the big guns line of defence. I have a limited supply and although I am holding off for switching meds and the like I have had to take it on occasions - I wish I could have that all the time for the RLS I don't take it at high enough doses to kill all my pain but the quiet in my body is delicious!

[Madlegs1]

Is Kratom one of those head shop drugs just banned by UK government?

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

Head shop drug isn't a great label for it! Here is a wee bit I lifted off the net:

Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia in the same family as the coffee tree (Rubiaceae). The leaves of kratom have been used as an herbal drug by peoples of South-east Asia. It is used in folk medicine as a stimulant (at low doses), sedative (at high doses), recreational drug, pain killer, medicine for diarrhoea, and treatment for opiate addiction. Many people report that kratom is an effective treatment for arthritis, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and fibromyalgia.

It works on the opioid receptors. Now as far as I can tell there is no 'recreational' value to the dose I take - I don't get any stimulation or sedation. There is no elation or 'stony' effect or anything other than what I can describe as a 'quieting of my body'. The urge to move and thrash goes and I feel what I suspect is normal for most people just able to sit at peace. The first time I took kratom was after coming off tramadol.

I had been experiencing worsening RLS so much so it was in my back and arms. I was in agony, I came across Kratom and RLS and ordered some. It was a god send and for the first time in my life my body was quiet! Now that may mean very little to most but to me that was HUGE. I sat and cried. I had spent my whole life wriggling in my body and for the first time I had quiet!

I used it then as a once daily dose at about 5/6pm to carry me through the worst stage of the restlessness in the evening so I could sit with my family and be normal and I would get good relief until midnight or so and it would be back to pacing. I was so grateful for that comfort in the evening I could be a part of my family and sit together instead of pacing or showering! I only used it then and tolerated it the rest of the day, (at its worst it could go from 2pm til 8am!!

The Dr eventually got the symptoms under reasonable control using Neupro and Targinact so I have my Kratom sitting safe so that when the 2 drugs I'm using now fail I'll have something to fall back on while I am transferred to other drugs!

Christ I hate RLS!

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks- I had heard rumours about it becoming unavailable or difficult to aquire. I know nothing about it.

The obvious question is- why don't you use it full time for rls relief?

I'm now getting good relief with oxycontin 10 at night and oxycontin 5 during the day. Apart from some itchiness and insomnia , my life is relatively normal and I'm coping. Long may it continue.

However - if kratom was a natural alternative - I would prefer to go that route.

Anyone any thoughts?

Cheers.

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

Unfortunately the reptiles in the Houses of Parliament brought forth more law that will harm lots of people and that means that Kratom wont be allowed.

Funny how life enhancing stuff like Kratom is outlawed while people, home and society destroying drugs like alcohol are still legal! I have some stockpiled but considering I'm in my 40's and hoping for another 20 years of life it wont go far So I have to keep it for times when the government approved drugs stop working and I am awaiting new ones.

While people give power to the politicians people are going to suffer!

[Madlegs1]

Thanks - that clarifies the situation for me.

[Daragh]

Hi regblunt26,

Please go to this link to learn more about Augmentation:

rls-uk.org/#!treating-rls/czj2