Augmentation aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

[bellalurcher]

Have been suffering with rls for years now. I never get more than a couple of hours sleep but at the minute the rotigitine patches I have been using for a couple of years have decided to rebel and are making things worse instead of better. I had also been having some idc issues so I’ve had to be weaned off the patches gradually but I am at the end of my tether.

Tonight is the 5th night in a row with absolutely no sleep whatsoever. I feel like I’m losing my mind.

So, desperate for some sort of relief (I can even sit down never mind lie down) I’ve stuck another patch on. I know I’ve probably made things worse for me in the long term but to be honest I would cover myself top to toe in the flippin things if I thought I’d be able to sleep.

Jees, rant over. Just needed to vent.

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When you weaned off the patch, did you not replace it with a different med.? You are having withdrawals from having weaned off the patch, hence you having no sleep, But if you havent replaced the patch with a different med then you need to see your doctor and discuss what next you are going to try. But NOT another dopamine med, otherwise you will augment again.

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Just to second what Elisse says. It's not a good plan to stop taking a dopamine agonist without replacing it with something because it's unlikely that your RLS will have disappeared. Additionally, if you stop taking the DA you will have withdrawal effects.

Insomnia is often a consequence of withdrawal and some people benefit from a short course of a benzodiazepine or a Z drug.

The worst step for withdrawal effects is when you finally stop the DA altogether. If you stop and start again, as you appear to have done, you are putting yourself in the worst situation for longer.

It might be a good idea to see your doc to see what help you can get.