Rls: I have added severe rls for years... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

21,289 members14,926 posts

Rls

Hoochybaby profile image
3 Replies

I have added severe rls for years my neurologist put me on prolonged pramipexole tablets which has worked wonders with me but now I have increased the dosage to two .52mg tablets one morning and one evening I have side effects dizziness and headache my gp says I should stop pramipexole completely to see if the side effects go but I am reluctant to do so can anyone help?

Written by
Hoochybaby profile image
Hoochybaby
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
3 Replies

Hi, The dose of pramipexole you're taking seems quite high. Just to check, is that 2 X 0.52mg tablets twice a day, i.e. a total of 2.8mg a day?

This still less than the maximum, but it may explain why you're having side effects.

You don't say WHY you increased the dose. People usually do this if it's not working as well as it used to, is that why you did it? If so, this isn't a good move.

You may have found that the RLS which usually starts in the legs, in the evening, has now spread to other parts of the body and earlier in the day.

If so, then perhaps you have heard of "augmentation". This is, paradoxically, the more you take the worse your RLS gets. Also paradoxically, the recommended way to deal with augmentation is to stop taking the pramipexole.

Hopefully, you realise you cannot just suddenly stop taking it. You have to wean yourself off it very gradually.

A lot of people find this extremely difficult, some find it impossible and you may require other medications to help you withdraw. I'm not expert on this as I've not yet achieved this myself as yet. I'm sure you'll get lots of other peoples stories about this on here.

An alternative to cutting out pramipexole altogether, is to cut it down to a point where the side effects disappear, but take something else in conjunction. I currently take Gabapentin as well as pramipoexole. I take a lower dose of each and because of this get lower side effects.

But you do need to at least cut down the pramipexole.

Your GP will have to cooperate with this and may not be very knowledgeable about RLS, so when you see them, it's best to go armed with some information.

A good source of information is

rlshelp.org/

I was a bit cynical at first about this web site, but now I often refer to it. You can email them about your situation, (click on the yellow button) and they WILL email you back within 2 hours.

Shaft1952 profile image
Shaft1952

I don't understand GP's logic, as you didn't have problems before increase, I would ring nurologist's secretary and ask for instructions.

EveW profile image
EveW

I stopped taking it cold turkey, not realising anything about weaning off slowly, and felt pretty crap for a while. Codeine helped with the RLS and then I got a Relaxis Pad which did the trick.

You may also like...

RLS

earlier I tried a different tablet with no affect . The effects of taking the tablet out way the...

Rls

got diagnosed with rls 8 months ago and have been taking pramipexole ever since. I have started...

RLS

I have had RLS for years now i have been on rapinirole tablet now i am on pramipexole but don't seem

Rls

I have hadRLS for years climbing walls and just came in after walking around I am on pramipexole the

RLS

doctor and was given Pramipexole . I took it 3 times a day. Now I'm having side effects and want to...