Levodopa

[Hoochybaby]

Hi I have just been given via tel message a prescription for levodopa 25mg but not told if I should take it along with my pramipexole. I have just been told to take 1 tablets at night hopefully it will help my insomnia

[Hidden]

In deciding how to react to that you might find the following helpful

1 Pramipexole is a dopaminergic agent and is quite likely to cause augmentation

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/147...

2 Levodopa is a dopaminergic agent and is quite highly to cause augmentation

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/872...

3 Pramipexole is KNOWN TO cause insomnia

rxlist.com/mirapex-side-eff...

4 Levodopa is KNOWN TO cause insomnia

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/713...

5 Levodoopa is best taken on it's own, only when needed, for intermittent RLS i.e. RLS that does not occur more than 3 times a week.

uptodate.com/contents/treat...

Conclusion, if you take both together you will most likely get augmentation. If you take Levodopa on its own regularly you will get augmentation.

Neither will help your insomnia, they are both on their own likely to casue insomnia, together they will be highly likely to casue insomnia.

Where did the message come from?

My insomnia vastly improved when I stopped taking any dopaminergic agent at all.

[Hoochybaby in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply

I find the news most depressing what am I supposed to do next I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea. If I stop taking the pramipexole and the levodopa I'm back to square one like I was a few years ago when I used to have rls symptoms during the day and night.

I could try levodopa on its own but if that too leads me down the augmentation path I'm no better off. If I could find some combination dosage just to help keep the rls at bay then that would be some consultation. My immediate concern is insomnia because at the moment I can't even think properly to make a logical decision I am so tired all the time.

Anyway thanks for being so honest I know it's not an easy problem

[Hidden in reply to Hoochybaby]

i Hoockybaby i am afraid i have to agree with Manerva, you could ask for a low dose of Tramadol, but that can also cause insomnia. Altho it doesnt for me. If you are not augmenting on the prami then tramadol can be taken along side it. I wouldnt just take the Levodopa on its own you will augment quicker. With RLS, trying different type of meds is involved for some of us.

[Hoochybaby in reply to Hoochybaby]

Yes and I didn't get on with it at the time but I see a neurologist on Friday I could ask for advice?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Have you tried Gabapentin?

[Joolsg]

Hi Hoochybaby,

I really think you need to take control of your RLS and read all the previous advice given to you about dopamine agonists and augmentation.

Your doctor is "pouring gasoline on the fire" by prescribing Levodopa when you have been augmenting on pramipexole.

Manerva has written excellent posts on how to get off pramipexole very slowly and he is now taking better medicines. Please read through all the recent posts and replies.

Please consider all the previous advice from the people on here- your doctor is just making your situation much, much worse.

I really hope you can take on board what everyone has been suggesting and get off pramipexole ( and don't take the Levodopa).