Ropinirole

[Juliezcarr1]

I have been reading about augmentation on this sites - is this an issue with ropinirole ?

[Kaarina Administrator]

Juliezcarr

In a word, yes.

Ropinirole can cause augmentation if you are needing to up the dose, it helps for a while, symptoms return, may be earlier too and you feel you need to up the dose again.

[mantel]

Yes , it happened to me after 15 years of it working. I was only taking 1/2 mg. I now take Lyrica and Tramadol

[Joolsg]

Yep. I was on it for 15 years. Augmentation started in the after 12 years. Now on oxycontin and pregabalin. If you think it's happening to you, read everything you can about it on this site and have your GP on side as you will need help if you come off the ropinirole. What dose are you on and how long have you been taking it?

Jools

[papparay46 in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Jules, I'm gathering as much information on RLS from this site to take to my doctor.

I'm presently (or was) taking 4 1mg tablets a day. Just cut down to 2. Hence the reason I'm bouncing off the wall's. I've been on Ropinirole for 6 years.

[Joolsg in reply to papparay46]

Hi Papparay46.

Ropinirole is fantastic while it works but after several years most people find it stops working as well and symptoms start to increase and start earlier in the day and move to the arms or torso. That is Augmentation.

Most GPS and even most neurologists don't understand it and so increase the dose which just makes the problem worse.

Reducing Ropinirole causes severe withdrawal, as you have found out- that's why you are climbing the walls.

You need to reduce slowly with the help of a strong painkiller like tramadol or codeine.

You may find you manage fine on 2mg or you may find you need to get off it completely.

You're doing the right thing reading all you can on here.

[OldHollow]

As everyone else has said, yes. I was heading down that route and got an agreement from my GP that I could vary my dose according to how I felt. I also supplemented with some Magnesium. That appears to have stopped the augmentation for now, although I've only been on it for seven years. I take 1mg every evening and then have a second pill if the symptoms start to kick in after that. I was up to 3mg per day before varying it.

[papparay46 in reply to OldHollow]

Hi, what do you mean by augmentation?

[OldHollow in reply to papparay46]

Needing an ever-increasing dose for the same benefits.

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to papparay46]

Hi papparay46

You may find this link helpful in learning about Augmentation: rls-uk.org/news/augmentation

[jk3842]

Yes! I know because I have had the experience. It is very hard to cut your doses back unless you a replacement drug and then it is still a difficult process. Be careful because most doctors will not tell you the whole story. They will dispense the med and move on.

[Juliezcarr1]

Thanks all