Managing medication

[Yakester]

I have had rls for many many years, way before it was a diagnosable condition. I have tried a lot of medications but side effects can be a big problem. I was taking mirapex which worked fairly well taking some in middle afternoon, some around dinner and some before bed. The two side effects that were the most prominent were sudden onset of extreme sleepiness and compulsiveness. The sleepiness eventually happened while I was driving (I had no idea at that time that the sleepiness was a side affect of the drug). I fell asleep while driving and totaled my car. So they changed my medication to gabapentine which eventually caused extreme depression and anxiety. So I started taking antidepressants and antianxiety medications which really messed me up. I ended up leaving a marriage of 35 years (my husband was an alcoholic and I totally lost my coping skills.) I could barely take care of myself. (All in all I don’t regret leaving the marriage and other decisions I have made since then but I sure had some really bad times). No other medication that I have tried works for me so I am back on a very low dose of mirapex and hydrocodone for breakthrough symptoms. I have a very high tolerance for hydrocodone and I’m wondering what kind of dose works for others. Of course my doctor watches this very closely. That’s why I’d like to know how much other rls people take. Thanks for any input.

[ookla]

In my opinion, everything has side effects, we end up trading one problem for another, we just have to pick which problem is more manageable. For me, 15 mg of oxycontin twice a day brought my RLS down enough to be tolerable. Insurance won't cover it anymore, so now I'm on 200 mg of extended release tramadol. It's better than nothing.

[Hidden]

I take Targinact 40/20 twice a day - that's 40 mg of Oxycontin. I have been on it for a while and had been also on the Neupro patch at 2 mg, Tramadol 50 mg twice a day and cannabis too with my body still restless. It was only through taking a gluten free and plant based diet that my body has become peaceful allowing me to stop the Tramadol and Neupro, (I still use the Targinact as I have pain issues it works well for).