I can't believe I slept!

[restlessstoz]

Last night I actually slept!!!! The only thing I did differently was to take the Targin BEFORE bed rather than as a response to RL. It seems to have worked. I woke several times but went to sleep again easily and with no RL symptoms. Wonderful! Now to duplicate that tonight.

[Hidden]

Oh my goodness, that's great news!! So pleased you have had some relief. Long may it last.

[LotteM]

Indeed great news! And yes, taking the meds BEFORE the symptoms start quells them far better than taking in response. Keep it up. Sweet dreaming tonight 😴

[Hidden]

Yay!!!!! Congrats!!!!! Heavenly, isn't it? Long may it last!

[Lapsedrunner]

That’s fabulous, what a difference proper sleep makes!

[restlessstoz]

It certainly is. I still nearly fell asleep when waiting to be connected to a government service on the phone this morning! Listening to the mindless music when the 'voice' actually answered I realised I was nearly asleep!

Let's hope that if I repeat the Targin after tea like last night, it may help again.

[Quiltingmum]

How did you get Targin? My GP won’t give me anything like that. I may have to move!!

[restlessstoz in reply to Quiltingmum]

My neurologist suggested Targin as he'd found/heard/read that it helps stop an episode. He wrote to my GP who now prescribes it. It's a restricted drug in Australia and illegal without a prescription. My GP isn't especially happy about it and would rather I wasn't on two opioids.

[restlessstoz]

Targin is oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone hydrochloride is an opioid agonist indicated for the management of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain where the use of an opioid analgesic is appropriate.) with naloxone hydrochloride. I googled: 'Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan among others, is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose. Naloxone may be combined with an opioid to decrease the risk of opioid misuse...'

[Quiltingmum]

I am in UK where my GP won’t give me anything like that. Maybe I should see a neurologist. Thanks

[LotteM in reply to Quiltingmum]

You may want to direct your gp to the NICE guidelines for RLS: nice.org.uk/advice/esnm67/c...

[Quiltingmum in reply to LotteM]

That’s amazing LotteM. My GP obviously doesn’t know this, I may have to enlighten him.

Thank you for this info. This forum is sooooo helpful!

[LotteM in reply to Quiltingmum]

Yes, isn’t it?! I learned most through this forum as well.

[restlessstoz]

You know I said I slept... well now I can say I didn't sleep! I didn't take the Targin until later which was a mistake- a crazy day spent at the vets and nursing a sick bunny! Anyway, I finally was able to settle to bed at 1.30 and then was up a lot of the rest of the night. I ended up taking another Targin and it finally worked at about 4 am. Then legs again at 5.45! No rest for the wicked.

Now I'm a zombie again (and waiting for the vet to open so I can take small rabbit to hospital.) Stress is high on my trigger list so I expect a difficult time ahead.

[Restlesssinger]

Hello, restlessstoz. I'm very interested to hear your ongoing experience with Targin. When my husband and I get back from vacation late next week, I plan to inquire further about this. My GP has already told me she isn't able to prescribe it. So odd, since she's able to prescribe hydrocodone (aka Norco or Vicodin). I've been taking one 5-325 mg. tablet of hydrocodone about 30 minutes before bedtime for months now, NOT waiting until the RLS begins. You're right; sleeping well is heavenly! The drawbacks of this regimen are the risk of tolerance, and needing a higher dose to achieve the same result. I've already increased from 1/2 to 1 tablet, and on especially rough nights, I might even need 1-1/2 tablets. The writing is on the wall, in other words. The benefits of Targin are many, I've heard. Most important, it reduces the risk of needing an ever increasing dose. My only hesitation comes from having read that naltrexone (the opiate antagonist) is "energizing" rather than sedating. That's why I'm very interested to hear your ongoing experience with this. Thank you so much for sharing. Please let me (and all of us) know how it's going for you as you use Targin over the next nights, weeks, months! Best wishes!

[Restlesssinger]

P.S. What dose of Targin are you on? Thank you!

[restlessstoz in reply to Restlesssinger]

5 mg Targin usually 1x daily however, I have been known to have 2 when I'm desperate. Off to bed now as I'm so tired after an almost sleepless night last night. Hopefully better tonight. Falling asleep at the table.

[restlessstoz]

Sorry, to put it 'simply'... it is a drug that can help some people. Some doctors won't prescribe it or can't. Good luck.

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