Ropinerole to Pregabalin

[lamin8or2]

As my ropinerole were causing anxiety as well as not really dealing with rls I am now trying Pregabalin. Spent the whole of last night pacing and rolling around on the floor due to severe discomfort it looks like tonight may well be the same. Is this to be expected with a change of medication? The thought of another bad night after so much discomfort over the last weeks flare up really is a little daunting. Thanks in anticipation

[Hidden]

It really does depend HOW you switched. If you just suddenly stopped taking the Ropinirole and then started taking the Preghabalin then

a) You'll get fairly significant dopamine agonist withdrawal effects the first night you stop, and the second, and - - - for a while.

b) The Pregabalin mght take some time to work and some say it won't work until all the dopamine agonist is out of your system.

You might need some other medication to help you over the switching period

[lamin8or2 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for your reply, so confused as don't know now whether feeling symptoms of rls, withdrawal from ropinerole or reaction to new meds! Common problem, but with a four week wait for a gp appointment you are somewhat left to left to your own methods!

[Hidden in reply to lamin8or2]

If your doctor did allow you to stop Ropinirole suddently, I'd change your doctor.

If you're not sleeping you should be able to get an urgent appointment.

[lamin8or2 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks fof your help

[mmb8083 in reply to Hidden]

You are right Manerva. Both my doctor and my pharmacist told me to "just stop" taking Roperinole. Led to a nightmare existence for a few days so I started taking again because I thought I would literally lose my mind. This experience has totally destroyed my faith in doctors and this particular pharmacist anyway. I educated myself thanks to the many knowledgeable people on this site and weaned myself off the correct way...very slowly.

[Joolsg]

As Manerva says, if your doctor switched you from Ropinirole to pregabalin without advising about the severe withdrawal - complain and see a new one asap.

Dopamine agonists cause severe withdrawal if stopped cold turkey. You will need a strong painkiller ( opioids usually) to get you through withdrawal.

If you’ve only just been told to switch, go back to the Ropinirole dose you were taking & reduce very slowly. 0.5mg every 5-7 days.

And Pregabalin takes 3 weeks to be effective and won’t help until about 10-14 days after last dose of Ropinirole.

[Bee27]

I’ve been trying to reduce Ropinrole now that I take pregabalin, but not getting anywhere. One night I had terrible rls. I walked around all night in tears. I thought I had taken my Ropinrole, but it was dark and I had taken a tablet for my dizziness instead! That quashed the theory that I didn’t need Ropinrole any more!

[Hidden in reply to Bee27]

If you "miss" a dose of a dopamine agonist, as I've done a few times, you will know about it. You need to reduce it slowly and even then, it will still be in your system for a while after reducing it to zero.

It's not so much a need as it is a physiological dependency.

Also, it may be that the Pregabalin won't work until all the Ropinirole has left you.

I hear a lot of people take opiates to help them through the switch because, there will probably be a few weeks when neither the Ropinirole nor the Pregabalin is working.

By all accounts withdrawing from a dopamine agonist is not easy!

[lamin8or2 in reply to Bee27]

thanks for your help,

[Bat3353]

What does of ropinorole were you on and as advised your doctor isn’t well informed it is crazy to tell you just to switch meds I tried it as per my doctor and lasted 1 night I tried to get off dopamine and gave in but the only positive thing is I cut the dopamine levels in half 2mg neupro patch 24hr and 3mg ropinorole at night now I have zero rls

[lamin8or2 in reply to Bat3353]

thanks for your help and advice

[Sara_2611]

I don't know anything about this drug. I couldn't take it because if my medication. I hope you situation sorts itself out soon