Just been diagnosed with RLS

[Jonvicky]

Hi. I have just been diagnosed with RLS and have had my sleep pattern checked and have benn given my medication. I have chosen to have pramipexole. As apose to gavamentin. I think it's called. As I have just lost weight and have been told that taking the gava I will gain weight. Is this true??

[involuntarydancer]

Yes; weight gain is a very common side effect of taking gabapentin. It is also often less effective as a mono-therapy for rls than pramipexole. Pramipexole is itself occasionally associated with weight-gain but not so commonly as gabapentin. I found pramipexole very effective for my rls and it might actually help with weight loss as it's easier to lose weight when you are not sleep deprived. Keep a close eye on the pramipexole though and don't let your dose go above .25mg as it can turn on you and start to actually worsen your rls. You may find it takes years before this happens but it generally does happen in the end. One other thing to look out for is compulsive behaviour, e.g. gambling, internet shopping, collecting things, computer gaming etc. It is unusual at low doses of pramipexole but it is not unknown and can creep up on you without your realising it.

[Bajatom in reply to involuntarydancer]

Pramapexole made my RLS worse. I've been on gabapentin for three years, 300 mg, low dose and occasional holiday from it for a few days. Gives me 6 hrs sleep which I can live on. No weight gain, but I eat only plant based foods, like 10 servings veggies and fruit with various starches such as potatoes, pulses, pasta, whole grains, etc.

[Jonvicky in reply to involuntarydancer]

Hi. I'm starting on 88 micrograms for two weeks to start and then 156 micro grams there after. This doesn't sound as high as what people are saying they take. Is this a trial period.

[Hidden in reply to Jonvicky]

Jonvicky, the 0.088mgs is the very lowest and thats right to start off with. It MIGHT work at that dose and you will have no need to increase it. If you find it doesnt work taking that one pill, then you can try taking two. If those two pills do not work then dont let your doctor increase the dose. The RLS experts are saying to take no more than those doses. That way it helps to keep the augmentation at bay.

[Joolsg]

I was on gabapentin for over 6 months and didn't gain any weight. In fact, I think I lost weight but that was because I started a strict paleo diet last June to try to stop the RLS. Some people do report it as a side effect of gaba but as we all react differently, you wouldn't know until you were taking it.

Good luck,

Jools

[nightdancer]

I can tell you out of EVERY med I have tried for RLS, Gabapentin "fogged my brain out" and I also gained 50 lbs almost overnight! That is common. But then when I tried the dopamine meds like Pramipexole and Ropinerole, I got so violently ill , I lost the Gabapentin weight. I spent years losing weight way back, and there is no way I would take a med that makes me gain weight. So, all you can do is to do your trial and error, like we all have done, and see what's best for you. Just keep the dose as LOW as possible in the Prami. Any dopamine med needs to be kept at the lowest dose possible.