Effect alcohol has on dopamine agonist? - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Effect alcohol has on dopamine agonist?

Barnaby97 profile image
12 Replies

Has there been anybody noticed the effect alcohol has on their dopamine agonist?

I wear a 3mg dopamine 24 hour release patch, and have found that on the occasions that I have gone out for an evening with friends, and had a few beers that the patches are less effective. I have looked on the official sites, but haven't found any warnings about not taking alcohol with these patches.

It's now 2am and having tossed around in bed since Iv'e got home, I have got up and posted this.

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Barnaby97 profile image
Barnaby97
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12 Replies

Hi, there may not be specific warnings about drinking alcohol whilst using a DA patch (Neupro?), but for normal acting DA tablets there are warnings to be "cautious" about alcohol. I believe this is mainly because alcohol, ( at first), can make you sleepy and a possible side effect of a DA is sudden sleepiness.

However alcohol is a known trigger for RLS with or without a DA, so will neutralise the effect of the DA to some extent.

Madlegs1 profile image
Madlegs1

As Manerva has pointed out, alcohol is a major trigger for rls-- so your experience is more about triggering rls than inneffective patch.

RLS is 92.67% about triggers. And you read that on the internet ( where informational statistics are only 96.328% correct )

Keeping a diary will help a lot in determining what your particular triggers are.

Your new life awaits you.

Good luck.

Barnaby97 profile image
Barnaby97 in reply toMadlegs1

Thanks for your reply and info, which I did not know about.

I had noticed in the past that more than one glass of wine had created some rls, but hadn't had a reason to really associate the two. Now I know, and will restrict my alcohol intake.

Madlegs1 profile image
Madlegs1 in reply toBarnaby97

It's surprising how well you will become acquainted with the range of non alcoholic drinks available. It is getting better with the no drink / driving climate.

Both wine and beer are available. Just be careful of " low alcohol" beers -- they can be 0.5% alcohol-- which may not be a problem. I can have a glass-- no more!🥺

You will have a great excuse to experiment.😊

Annieapple profile image
Annieapple

Keep hydrated with lots of plain water if you can. Stay away from alcohol as it’s a known alcohol trigger & just not worth the risk. I would suggest drinking water as well if you do indulge now & again.

Tinabugsu profile image
Tinabugsu

People with restless leg should never use alcohol it's a known trigger for restless legs.

Lapsedrunner profile image
Lapsedrunner in reply toTinabugsu

Not for everyone... I can have a great nights sleep after a few drinks and a bad one after nothing. We’re all different!

Tinabugsu profile image
Tinabugsu in reply toLapsedrunner

That's good. Your an exception. But in the literature, alcohol is listed as a trigger, right along with antidepressants, some antihistamines and anti-psychotics . . . Et seq.

Lapsedrunner profile image
Lapsedrunner in reply toTinabugsu

Caffeine doesn’t affect me either...in fact caffeine helps to settle my legs (I’m not alone in this)

Tinabugsu profile image
Tinabugsu in reply toLapsedrunner

I don't think it affects me either. I could almost always take a nap after coffee. But nighttime, I couldn't even lay down for 5 minutes before it started. And at that point I have had caffeine since 9am!

Lapsedrunner profile image
Lapsedrunner

When I was on DAs alcohol didn’t affect their effectiveness at all

Merster profile image
Merster

Merster here.

If I as much as have any alcohol in my mouth or swallow anything with alcohol in it I am sick for 2 days.. as a result I have stayed completely away from any kind of alcoholic drinks for 2 yrs now and figure as long as I am on Reqip I might as well right off beers in the afternoon or any drinks while out with friends. I have gotten used to it now and won't even try to see if my Rls has evolved so I can do as I used to. I tried a couple of times and the same result. Guess I am destined to be a teetotalers.

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