Medicine not working anymore

[RLSufferer]

Hello I have been suffering from RLS for about 10 years and I am a 56 year old male. I have used requip for about 7 years. It worked well until a couple months back and then my doctor raised my dose from 1mg to 2 mg. I hate the way the medication makes me feel and am looking for another option. I do not think my doctor knows much about the condition. I have thought about contacting a neurologist. Please help. Frikin miserable. I would wish this condition on anyone. It is horrible.

[Backtobasics95]

Try the low fodmap diet. I've been doing it for a month. Absolutely fantastic. Right leg is 95% calm and my left leg is up to about 65%. It has been hard lately because I eat one thing that's supposedly low fodmap then my RLS flares up. But it always returns back to normal a week later. You really have to be strict, and if I were you, I would literally eat the same foods for a month straight to be 100% safe. For me it's chicken and rice with veggies or fish and rice with veggies. Been eating that for dinner for two weeks straight because I'm too scared to try anything else (steak is ok). But it's up to you, give it a go.

ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fo...

[involuntarydancer]

I think 2mg of requip is at the upper end of the scale and you would need to monitor yourself carefully both for augmentation and side effects eg compulsive behaviour (typically gambling and internet shopping) and falling asleep very suddenly.

If it were me I would be very reluctant to increase my dose like that and would be inclined to keep requip at 1mg and supplement it with something else - for milder symptoms lifestyle choices (fantastic if dietary changes work) can be helpful - there are loads of suggestions dotted around this site. If symptoms are more severe the drug route is anti-convulsants or opioids.

You should also get your serum ferritin levels checked by your GP as US rls experts consider that the majority (but not all) sufferers benefit from getting their levels up to over 100. My symptoms have improved a lot by getting my level up to around 80 using oral iron.

[nightdancer in reply to involuntarydancer]

you are right Involuntary Dancer. 2 mgs is the highest recommended therapeutic dose now. The best book and reference for RLS is Clinical Management for Restless Legs Syndrome, 2nd edition. All of my doctors have a copy and the treatment algorithm is second to none. They cover every aspect of RLS treatment from the clinical side in this book, co-written by 4 RLS specialists.

[Kaarina Administrator]

RLSufferer

If you would like to learn more about augmentation here is a link which others find/have found helpful: sleepreviewmag.com/2015/02/...

Your doctor may like to read it too.

[nightdancer in reply to Kaarina]

That is the BEST explanation of augmentation that exists. There is not a day that goes by that I do not reference this. Well worth the read!

[Ikeeptrying in reply to Kaarina]

Really informative article--thank you for the link. I'm going to print it out for my neuro.

[nightdancer]

A neurologist would be a great idea, since RLS is a neurological disease. 7 years is a long time to be on a med like Requip, and it may have run it's course with you.

[debbierupp]

I was on Requip (Ropinirole) and my legs were getting worse. They started bothering me in the morning and during the day. I didn't realize it was augmentation and the requip wasn't really helping me anymore.

My Doctor put my on pramipexole (Mirapex) and my legs are so much better. I hope you find relief soon.

[genny]

I don't know who will readthis but want anyone at all to know that i have had rls for over 50 years and tried everything they say helps it. I have been giving myself marijuana tea for depression and found that when i take that i have NO rls symptoms all night.