Trying to lower dose of roponirole and affecting sleep

I dont think that melatonin is a good solution.I m not sure but i think that melatonin makes rls get worse.

You have to be careful weaning off the roponirole, you will experience withdrawal effects, so you should supplement. I've tried two supplements, the first one was Quiet Legs, by Simply Vital that I ordered from the UK. They actually give you a step down protocol for reducing the Requip. Now I am using Seratame supplements and increased Magnesium. I also have included Cranial Sacral massage and have been in a really good remission for nearly a year with only occasional flare ups. And I did not have a light case of RLS, I have lived with it severely for 50 years and was up to 3 mg of Roponirole and then started getting augmentaition. Anti-inflammatory diet helps as well. Hope this is helpful.

Hi Pipsee,

I too am trying to reduce my Ropinerole. I came down to 1 mg months ago and things were going well so decided to try for .75 but before I did the rls got going strongly again so I delayed but it is so bad now I’m resisting putting it up again but my resolve is weakening.

Sorry, I have no suggestions other to have high levels of magnesium, ferritin and Vit D.

I believe more in taking bad things out of my diet. Over the past few years I have ditched regular cows milk, and stick to 'a2 milk' or goats milk and have cut down on my gluten intake. These may not help sleep, but make me brighter and more awake during the day so that my brain needs the sleep. I now regularly sleep six hours a night without waking and can drop off again for an hour or two after getting up to go to the toilet.

Why are you trying to get off Ropinirole? Are you experiencing Augmentation?

Withdrawal is very, very difficult BUT, as you have only been on it for a year and at a relatively low dose, it should be a little easier than if you had been on it at higher doses for a longer time.

You will notice RLS symptoms increase with every dose reduction so you should ask your doctor for a strong painkiller to take at this time, like tramadol. You should also discuss what meds, if any, you will take once off Ropinirole. For example, if you take Pregabalin ( Lyrica) or Gabapentin, they take 3 weeks to become fully effective so you should start taking them during the withdrawal from ropinirole.

I may be naive but I am trying to wean myself off because I don’t want to experience augmentation. I am hoping some healthier supplements will do the same thing. At least try to see if it will.

Hi Pipsee22...I was very naive and when I augmented on Ropinirole 2mg(which was less than one year)...the Dr. looked at me like I had two heads when I said I had augmentation with Ropinirole...but did suggest I wean down slowly from it and he would give me something else. I took me a long time with using Tramadol but I made it and began taking the new prescription without doing my homework and researching it. Well, the new script was for Pramipexole and not until I soon began getting worse again and suffering RLS even during the day as well night did I research and find that it was also a dopamine agonist...so, now I am in the midst of weaning down and off Pramipexole...again using Tramadol as well as Gabapentin! Good Luck and do keep "searching" and not just believing the Dr. knows what is best!

It took me 3 months to completely wean off requip. I was up to 4 mgm a day, with divided doses. Tramadole was a godsend. Now I’m on gabapentin, 300 mgm twice a day.

Has anyone considered trying naltrexone or low dose naltrexone (ldn) to help with augmentation and withdrawing from a dopamine agonist (ropinerole or pramipexole)?

A recent poster suggested it was helpful. Though obviously waad (we are all different).