Mucuna Pruriens for RLS

I’m currently taking gabapentin, just got off the Neupro patch due to very high cost, but still deal with RLS. I’m trying MP, and trying to figure out how to incorporate it as a natural help. I bought the 100% pure from NutraVita. I had to give myself another dose at 3am, and it made me very sick to my stomach. Any thoughts or advise?

[Joolsg]

I used Mucuna pruriens for weeks and other than making me gag and feel nauseous, it didn’t help my RLS at all.

Give the Gabapentin at least a month to work as you’ll be suffering withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Neupro patch for quite some time and will need strong painkillers to help with the leg jerks/twitches.

[Hidden in reply to Joolsg]

Do you think gabapentin will eventually be all I will need? Ugh, I hope so.

[Joolsg in reply to Hidden]

Many people with RLS find Gabapentin works well for their RLS. It didn’t agree with me so I switched to pregabalin (Lyrica) 150mg at night and 25mg OxyContin over 24hrs.

It may take some time to see which meds help in the long term but bear in mind things will get worse before they get better because you will suffer withdrawal symptoms from stopping Neupro patch.

Pregabalin is absorbed more quickly and in a New England study in 2015 was found to be more effective than pramipexole.

If you’re in USA, Gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant) is a superior version of Gabapentin and works better than plain Gabapentin. If insurance is being difficult about cost they may refuse pregabalin or Horizant as they are more expensive than Gabapentin.

Use painkillers to help withdrawal symptoms and ask if you can get tramadol temporarily for a few months .

[cnagy44]

January 30, 2019 PreciousSleep: I have been trying to get off Mirapex. It causes augmentation. More you take, more it causes increase in condition.

[Bpsuper]

I came off Pramipexole and am taking Gabapentin which is working for me but it took several weeks to have a full effect. I upped the dose from 300mgs to 2 x 300 mgs, one in the morning and one in the evening. I have some broken sleep but get 6/7 in total most nights. Can't believe I am back to a more normal life and hope it lasts.

[TIMLEWIS7777]

I take gabapentin and carba-dopa and leva-dopa 3 times a day and I drink them down with six gulps of Kefir......Kefir helps to not upset my stomach....works great for me.....good luck!!!

[jimmcar]

I've been using mucuna for a long time. I found that I could replace a good portion of the Sinemet that I've been using with the mucuna - but not all. The Sinemet has a controlled release of the levadopa. The mucuna does not. I find that taking Sinemet with the mucuna helps to make it last longer.

About the upset stomach... How much are you taking? I've never had that problem but I only take a teaspoon at a time. Maybe taking it with orange juice or milk or something else to help it go down.

[eglimark]

I switched from Mirapex to MP and have been using it for about a year. I only take a quarter tsp at a time, mix it with a valerian tea at night. No stomach issues but it keeps me awake without the sleep aid.