Need help!

[Spudellen]

Under pressure, my doctor put me on a Dopamine Agonist (Neupro patch) 2mg/24h. I had a great night for the first time in 3 years but was awfully nauseous the next day and had to go back to bed and slept until 2:30p and also slept at night even though I didn't put on the patch. My question is that I am wondering if I can cut the patch in half or take it every second night. I really need help.

[Hidden]

I would definately try for 1mg which is what your doctor should have started you on. 2mg sounded too much for you. You can cut your 2mg in half even tho it says not to, but many people do. Hope it helps.

[Spudellen in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your help.

[involuntarydancer]

Yes; I cut my patches regularly when I was on them. Until I augmented.

[Spudellen]

Thank you all so much to all who answers my genuine need for help and advice. I will cut my pat we into a quarter tonight and see what happens. I went back to having my normal horrible night last night as I wasn't sure what to do with the patch. I will NOT go above 1mg of Neupro patch. Thanks again.

[involuntarydancer]

Just a heads up. It can be difficult to get the back off the patches once they are in quarters. I found I had a certain amount of wastage.

[RLSBOGEY]

My doctor started me on 2mg patch. In 3 months I augmented. I went back on 1mg of ropinirole which was my previous Rx. It is working for now. What has seemed to help me is changing my diet.

I have cut out gluten, caffeine, and alcohol. I eat limited animal protein and foods with added sugar. I keep a daily log of the foods I eat (mostly organic) to track the calories which I keep under 2000. My supplements are a daily vitamin, magnesium, msm, and B-complex at breakfast. Mid-afternoon I take vitamin C and gentle iron. Around 9 pm 1mg of ropinirole. A hot shower or an epsom salts bath in the evening is helpful. This regimen has worked the best for keeping my RLS bogey to a minimum. Wish you better health.

[involuntarydancer in reply to RLSBOGEY]

Hi RLSBOGEY

To get as long as possible from the ropinerole it might be worth taking occasional breaks from it for a few days. Also keep your serum ferritin levels up as there is a link between augmentation and low iron levels. I have heard that a drug regime is likely to work for longer if you don't have the symptoms completely under control. Aim for about 90%. I would also suggest making sure you do not increase the dose above 1mg. If you find it no longer works then take a break rather than increasing the dose. It is worth finding another prescription drug to supplement the ropinerole in times of crisis or when you need a break. Thus it might be worth having a prescription for pregabalin or better still tramadol. For myself I tend to resort to kratom for when other drugs let me down. It is very effective against rls for most sufferers but unfortunately has the disadvantage of being illegal in UK.

[Spudellen]

Great adv.

[Spudellen]

Great advice! Thanks

[TEAH35]

Hi there Spudellen, So you live in Oz like me. As I have never heard of the neuro patch before this forum, and as it has not been even mentioned to me by any of the clinicians that I have seen, I was beginning to wonder if it was available in Australia. But after now reading your post my wondering is over. Whereabouts in the country are you? I am in Bundaberg north of Brisbane.

[Spudellen in reply to TEAH35]

Hi Grant ..I live on the Gold Coast. Neupro patch is available in Australia but I halve the 1mg patch and added 5mg of Targin.

[Spudellen]

Hi Grany, Just ask your doctor and he should be able to prescribe a Neupro patch for you but don't forget this is a dopomine agonist and it won't last. Also, don't let your Dr give you a 2mg patch (like mine did) because that is for Parkinsons disease..I cut my 1mg Neupro patch into two and together with Tarjin it has been sufficient. This is working for me but we are all different. It was just because I was at the end of my tether that I gave in and used the Neupro patch but eventually I know I will start to have augmentation. I have decided NOT to go beyon the 1 patch cut in half. Good luck.