Pramipexole

[Hoochybaby]

Thank you to all who replied to my post. I went to see my go because I was worried about my headaches and dizziness all I believe can be side effects of pramipexole. I am taking a daily total of 1.04mg( .52mg morning and night) he told me the only way to prove the symptoms were caused by pramipexole was to stop taking the tablets and see if the headaches go I am reluctant to do so because I know my rls will keep me awake all night. I'm not sure what to do wheather to go back to the neurologist pay private and see what he suggests. I need to do something but what???

[RWick]

Maybe this will help - I have cut down on Pramipexole to approximately .088 and it gives me a headache every night when I take the small dose. If I don’t, I have rls during the night which is worse than the headache. Pharmacist says it is a side effect I’m sensitive to. I just choose the lesser of the two evils.

[Hidden]

If you just completely stopped taking Pramipexole as your GP seems to be suggesting, you may suffer severe withdrawal effects as you are physiologically dependent. If that's what he/she was saying then I'd say he/she is dangerously incompetent.

You need to wean slowly off Pramipexole and perhaps use something else to help you do this, I suggest you download some information about weaning off the drug, make an appointment with ANOTHER GP and take your information with you.

Can anyone else help here?

You may wish to submit a complaint about the first doctor.

You do not have to see a neurolgist privately to get some sensible, (and safe) help with your medication.

[Lapsedrunner in reply to Hidden]

I weaned off the minimum dose of 1 x 0.088 pramipexole, I did it over a couple of weeks with no extra meds and it wasn’t pleasant.

Most people recommend supportive doses of opioids during that period, and I suspect you will need that given your current dosage...lots of good advice will be forthcoming I’m sure.

Good luck

[llcelsie in reply to Lapsedrunner]

How did you do it? I have been on Pramipexole for about 3 years the maximum dose I have been on was 0.18 now back on 0.088 after trying another med. I want to try and control it without any drugs.

[Madlegs1]

+ all the advice here.

You are going to have to reduce your dose anyway- you are double the limit for rls.

Read up on Augmentation and on tapering off Pramipexol.

All the very best.

[Parminter]

Hoochy, do you really mean 0.52mg X 2? If so, that is a huge dose, and there will almost surely be other troubles down the road.

I think you should say that you are concerned by the high dose, by the possibility of augmentation (if you are not already augmented), and that you would like help weaning off the drug and moving to a new drug or combination of drugs.

[Bpsuper]

I was on Pramipexole for many years and augmented, although I didn't realise for some time. I weaned off gradually with great difficulty but it was worth it. I am now on Gabapentin and have RLS only very mildly and occasionally, and sleep well. It was well worth the change.

[Oscarsaurus]

I am on pramipexole but the lower dose and i dont suffer headaches but do have the dizzy spells. I recently had bronchitis and the virus obviously made my dizzy spells so much worse. I know from experience that if you are badly stressed or ill that side effects of drugs i take are worsened . Hope you get things sorted

[hausbauer]

I am even dizzy with 0,088 and cannot imagine my status with your dose. Please do as the above members suggest - reducing very very slowly and with the help of another medication and a knowing doctor.

[Durno]

I have been advised by a nurse practitioner at my surgery to stop pramipexole (.088 at night and .018 in morning) as they had become less effective at controlling else and have been prescribed gabapentin ( 3 X 100 mg) so far proving to be worse than the pramipexole. Had no sleep for the past 3 nights and problems during the day as well. No one mentioned anything about weaning off gradually or that it could take up to a week for the gabapentin to kick in. Going to take some of my husband's dihydrocodeine tonight to get some sleep.

[Lapsedrunner in reply to Durno]

I’ve been there, lots of us on here have!

Don’t stop pramipexole suddenly, wean down very gradually (I know the tablets are quite hard to cut)

The gabapentin won’t do anything until you’ve been off the pramipexole for a few weeks.

Talk to your GP about getting ferritin levels checked (need to be over 100) and something short term to help with withdrawal.

Good luck

[Sara_2611]

Hi Hoochybaby I couldn't take any of the tablets because Im on medication for blood pressure & epilepsy & B12