concerns about weaning off of a medication

[med-question]

Good Afternoon everyone I am the wife of a person taking a medication for RLS, that is causing a serious problem in both of our lives. I live in Northern Minnesota.

[LotteM]

Hi. So what is your question? And what med does your partner take, how much of it and since when. And what is the problem?

[med-question in reply to LotteM]

He is currently on pramipexole but was previously on Ropinerole he has been on these drug since about Sept. of 2013 a very mild dose --- 1/2 of a .5 MG tablet each night . but I have been told that these drugs can cause a serious gambling addiction , and unfortunately this seems to be the case -- I'm afraid to just stop the med ( I fill our meds )after having read about the possible withdrawal . How serious is this at this low of a dose ?

[nightdancer]

Need more details if we are going to help you? How long has she been on it, what is the dose, was the dose increased, etc, and the name of the drug. We love to help, but we are not psychic. IF it is making it worse for her, I am going to GUESS it is a dopamine med? like Mirapex/pramipexole, or Requip/ropinerole?

[med-question in reply to nightdancer]

yes both Ropinerole since Sept 2013 the changed to Pramipexole since Jan 17 2017 . he takes 1/2 of a .5 MG tabe each night for RLS

[Madlegs1]

In general go down by 10% every 3 days. You may need opiate for last decrease depending how much and long he has been on it.

It is doable. Check out " Augmentation " on this site and Google.

[med-question in reply to Madlegs1]

Sept 2013 he was started on ropinirole ,1/2 of a .5 MG tablet each night. on Jan. 17 2017 he was switched to Pramipexole -same dose -- I have concerns that (after researching these drugs) his gambling problem may be associated with them and I am worried about possible withdrawal if I stop putting the in his meds

[LotteM]

Hi. These are low doses. He can easily stop at once, I wouldn’t even how how to reduce such a low dose as he is taking half tablets already. But - there is always a but - rls will be back.

The good but comes next. There are other meds for rls. Gabapentin or pregabalin ( alpha 2 delta ligands) and opioids.

Go back to the md that prescribed the ropinirole and pramipexole and explain about the gambling. It is a fairly common and well-known side effect. To educate yourself and come to the meeting with the md armed with info, it may be wise to vist the rls-uk website:

rls-uk.org/

Others have experience with this side effect and may tell you how quickly it stopped after stopping the pramipexole.

[DicCarlson]

The gambling problem is a side effect for DA drugs and effects about 13% of users. Often the patient is not aware of the compulsion, though the spouse or family members are. In 2012 a lawsuit in Europe awarded a patient $250K as settlement against Glaxo-Smith-Klein makers of Ropinirole. These behaviors occur in patients with no history what so ever of gambling or hyper-sexuality.