Trying to prevent augmentation

[Peter-caribe]

My last post was 10 months ago and I wondered whether having periods with Pramipexole followed by a period without could prevent the dreaded augmentation.

I did experiment for a few months. Since January I have a pattern of 11 days taking Pramipexole followed by 4 days without Pramipexole.

In addition I have tried reducing or eliminating the 'triggers ' plus taking vitamins etc.

Overall there is no restless legs in the day and evenings. During each 15 day spell I have (on average) 8 very good nights, 3 good nights, 2 fairly good nights and 2 bad nights.

I keep meticulous records because I am unable to remember with any certainty what happened last week or month etc.

I do feel that I have got my life back. Long may it last.

Keep smiling and be positive,

[Hidden]

Drug holidays can work for some people. Glad what you are doing is working for you. By stopping the Pramipexole for a few days, (altho some take longer drug holidays) is re-setting the Pramipexole.

[Madlegs1]

Look at mattlys post two posts below. A similar regime is described.

[Parminter]

'Drug holidays' are suggested by the boffins, to keep the drug efficacious while avoiding the harms.

[Capuleta]

Hi, my diary of sleep sounds similar to yours, I only started suffering from RLS this summer, totally out the blue, no family members have it, I've had lots of blood tests and all looks fine, so I've no idea why, I tried magnesium and iron supplements and am rubbing magnesium oil into my legs at night. The doc prescribed pramipexole 0.88mg .. I bought them home looked them up on line and nearly choked reading the potential side effects. However I am now feeling so tired and with a 28 mile commute at 7:30 each day worried how much longer I can have disrupted sleep. Do you find the pramipexole actually help you sleep as that's my main issue... I go to bed feel fine, nod off to sleep, if I stay asleep fine, but if I wake up, within 5 minutes the ant army is crawling up and down my calf muscles. One of the side effects of pramipexole is causing insomnia so that sounds counter-intuitive to me, I want to try them but only if they assist with staying asleep... what's been your experience?

[Peter-caribe in reply to Capuleta]

Hiya, when I talk about very good nights and good nights, this is what I mean.

A very good night is about 8 hours sound sleep, perhaps with waking up for the bathroom once.

A good night is 6 to 8 hours sleep but coming awake 3 or 4 times during the night.

In addition where I had bad RLS from about 5 in the evening EVERY DAY until the following morning, this is no longer the case.

I accept that there are side effects but the alternative was awful, as you know.

You have to keep trying to get to the optimum point for you and start living again.

I would add that there are many knowledgeable sufferers on this site who are always willing to assist others and educate others.

[Capuleta]

Thanks... yes can't remember when I had 8 solid hours, a good night for me is waking once or twice, sleeping 6-7. Last night it was about 4 hours sleep, woke, lay awake from 02:30 to alarm at 06:30, I don't get it in the day or evenings just when get into bed. Just nervous of Pramipexole but I think I've got to give it a go now. Glad you've found some relief. I'll post a general question I think

[Lapsedrunner in reply to Capuleta]

Have you read the answers to your own post Capuleta?