TROUBLE, TROUBLE , TROUBLE.

[sweetiepye]

I have RLS, insomnia ,and several other chronic problems.. I have had several recent sleep studies and I am slated for a c-pap machine. I see a pulmonary sleep specialist . He wants me off the ropinirole and clonazepam I take for RLS , I want to get off them too. He does not give any medication to ease the withdrawal and plans on a month for each drug slowly tapering off. The other part is iron infusions to quickly restore levels. I'm scared I won't be able to handle it Is there anyone on site who has been able to accomplish this without any additional medications ? Pam

I've been on these drugs for 10 years. Ropinirole 3 MG one tab 3 x a day

Clonazepam 1 MG 2 tab at bedtime

[picklelady]

I have been on 1.5 mg of ropinirole and 1 mg of clonozepam for about ten years. I have tried to withdraw without success until now. Two weeks ago I started to take CBD oil (medical marijuana) and began the weaning process. I am currently down to .5 mg of the ropinirole and I am hopeful that by next week I can drop it altogether. The CBD is pretty amazing without the horrible side effects of ropinirole. Once I get through ropinirole whithdrawal, I plan to ween from the clonozepam as well. There is a good bit of positive research on CBD and restless leg and success stories are starting to appear. There is hope for me finally!

[sweetiepye in reply to picklelady]

So you are taking the CBD oil as well as the requip and clonazepam ? I was wondering if that was ok to do. My Doctor (I go to a different one now) had me stop clonazepam cold turkey ,by day 4 I was going nuts and thought I was dying. So i'm on my 3rd Doc now and still can't find one who will prescribe opioids . Could you tell me the brand and product name of the oil you take. PM me if you like. I really appreciate your information as I feel quite on my own and have no faith in the medical profession. Pam

[picklelady in reply to sweetiepye]

I have been doing this process on my own with help from the internet. (You can google subjects like restless legs and CBD - there is a multitude of information.) It seems like the doctors just want to hand out those prescriptions for ropinirole and mirapex as the easy fix - not really addressing the cause or with any concern for augmentation and other side affects. I am determined to get off ropinirole and then clonazepam. Starting tonight I will not be taking any ropinirole having weened down by .5 mg a week for the last three weeks. I am still taking the 1 mg. of clonazepam. I plan to cut that in half but I am going to wait at least another week before I begin to address that - one thing at a time. There is no way you should stop the clonazepam cold turkey. It must be done gradually but there is research that shows CBD can help with that withdrawal as well.

As to the CBD, you need to buy it from a reliable source. - It is legal in all 50 states. I get mine from a local natural food store that I know and trust. They were very helpful in advising me on the type - oil, tincture or gel caps - and the dose. I would recommend trying to find a source like that rather than ordering from the internet. I am using a product called CBD HEMP made by WILD FORK FARM, Maple Alcohol Tincture, Medium strength. For dosing you start low and then increase as needed to get a full night's rest. I am having more good nights than I have in years. Let me know if you need more info.

I have added vitamin B1 and and a B multiplex to address possibly the cause of my restless legs - also on the advice of my natural food store. See Dr. Eric Berg's Youtube video on the subject of restless leg syndrome causes.

I have also added a magnesium product called Calm that helps put me at ease at night. Magnesium was recommended to me as another measure to address the cause of restless legs. Just trying to work all the angles - addressing the symptoms and the causes. So far I am very hopeful that CBD will be the answer for me but this coming week will be the real test. I will keep you posted.

[Dcb55 in reply to sweetiepye]

I am slowly tapering off what started as a 4 mg nightly dose of clonazepam. I am down to 1.25 and it feels much like my augmentation and taper off of ropinirole. I can’t imagine doing both at once. I also take opioids and they don’t do much to help the withdrawal symptoms though they do help with the RLS when I take them at night. I don’t want to complicate my life by taking them during the day as well so I am gritting my teeth to get through this.

[Artjr102 in reply to picklelady]

That’s good the CBD oil is working for you. Hopefully your in a state were marijuana is legal. I have found that a good India like “Moon Dawg” or “Gorilla Glue Gelato” will give me 1 1/2 to 2 hours of relief and sleep within 2 to 3 minutes. I vap the marijuana in oil form so it sits right on my bedtime nightstand.