Help with new medication.

[LisaLou61]

I have PN? still testing and my new doctor wants me to try Requip? of course I didnt get to talk to him just his MA over the phone. I dont have RLS and wanted to know if anyone here has PN and is taking Requip? Thanks and hugs

[involuntarydancer]

Hi Lisalou, I don’t have Peripheral neuropathy so I’m possibly not who you want to hear from but wanted to urge caution with requip.

It is in the family of dopamine agonist drugs that you will see a lot of people having trouble with. Pramipexole and neupro are others in the same group.

It used to be the first line treatment for rls but experts tend now not to prescribe it too readily. It often works like a dream at first but do not increase too readily as it can cause terrible problems as your body gets used to it (I can’t remember what the upper limit currently is but would suggest you look it up - it was revised down recently). It is also very difficult to discontinue, especially if you allow the dose to creep up.

If you do take it, make sure to start at a very low dose and get your serum ferritin checked as having high iron levels helps prolong the useful life of requip.

[LisaLou61 in reply to involuntarydancer]

Thank you for replying, I took my first dose of .05mg which sounds like a low dose. Boy want a horrible experience I had.... cramping in my lower belly and diarrhea so bad I almost blacked out. My face was white and I was very nauseous. Put me in bed for half a day. Doctor office said that my body needs to get use to it. I am not going to take it again for nobody... I would rather have pain it was that bad of a drug.

[involuntarydancer in reply to LisaLou61]

That sounds like a really extreme reaction. I haven’t heard of one so bad. I am surprised your doctor didn’t take it more seriously. To be honest, I would say you are better off without requip in any event.

Do get your iron levels checked as raising iron can have a very positive impact on rls.

Another family of drugs you can try if rls continues bad are the A2D ligands pregabalin or gabapentin which can be good for rls and they work better for people who haven’t previously been on a dopamine agonist such as requip.

Other avenues to explore are diet (reduce dairy gluten and sugar seems to have a beneficial impact for many) and magnesium which helps many. There is an interesting thread about potassium at the moment also but the amounts required to be taken seem to require a medical prescription. Good luck.

[LisaLou61 in reply to involuntarydancer]

I don't have rls and questioned my doctor about the drug requip and he said that it would help with the pain and stiffness in my legs and feet. Haven't been diagnosed as of yet. Thank you again for your helping heart.💗