so, i’ve just recently been diagnosed with RLS. i didn’t know anything about it or the medication used to treat it. i let my DR put me on Mirapex and i had an awful reaction to it with side effects. so we went to Requip. i’ve been on .25 to .50 for about 2 months. it was working great at first but then it started going into my arms badly and it wasn’t doing as good anymore. i ran out about a week ago and it has been pure hell. i’m so fatigued i can’t do anything without hurting. my joints hurt. the RLS is AWFUL! in both my arms and legs. i feel like i have the worst flu fatigue ever. how can i convince my dr that this medication is not for me? i would like to try Gapapinten or Lyrica as i have heard great things about those and i think they could also help my GAD. any advice is appreciated!
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Search the site for "augmentation".
This can happen when taking dopamine agonists.
Basically, the meds stop working and actually contribute to making symptoms a)worse and b) come in earlier in the day and/or occur in other parts of the body.
Stopping cold turkey has produced withdrawal. Can you go back on a tiny dose and wean off.
There are others on the site way more knowledgeable on the subject than I, so hopefully they will chime in.
Lastly, if you have augmented on a DA, taking another DA probably will not work so you are right to ask for lyrica or gabapentin.
If your dr will prescribe a small dose of an opiate it will help with withdrawal symptoms.
Ask for an opioid to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and then ask your doctor for blood tests and make sure the levels are above these:
Serum iron- above 60
Serum ferritin- above 100
Iron saturation - greater than 16%
As you’ve been off dopamine agonists for over a week- you have suffered the worst of withdrawal & it will start to ease off by day 10-14.
If you’re in the UK get OTC solpadeine max which contains a small amount of codeine- that may help until your GP gives you an opioid or pregabalin as ongoing treatment.
Raising any of the iron levels mentioned above should also help as studies have shown 50% of people with RLS will have an improvement.
Have you considered changing your diet to deal with the cause, rather than medication to try to deal with the symptoms. Many people are having success with low carb, low inflammatory, paleo or FODMAP type diets. You may also be intolerant of a particular trigger food like a food additive, or glutamate. The best way to identify those is by keeping a food and symptom diary.
Lycra was horrible for me!
how so?
It made me dizzy and consequentially nauseous. I persisted for a short time but gave up when I couldn't walk without bumping into the walls. Certainly couldn't drive and couldn't work.
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