RLS

[Docholiday1]

Have been prescribed Ropinirole for my RLS they took some getting used to stomach wise. Am on 2ml a day but they stop working earlier and earlier. Thing is if I forget to take or take it late it is alot worse even get it in my arms . Anyone any advice?

[Hidden]

Hi, sorry to her this.

Unfortunately it is so common to hear from people who have been prescribed a dopamine agonist p, e.g. ropinirole for their RLS.

The doctors also commonly fail to.warn people of the consequences of taking

[Docholiday1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Manerva

[Hidden in reply to Docholiday1]

Sorry some of my reply seems to have disappeared.

It should have continued. the consequences of taking a dopamine agonist ( DA) like ropinirole include

loss of efficacy

augmentation

Impulse Control Disorder

Loss of efficacy and augmentation can take a while to occur, or can happen within months.

For this reason, many doctors now no longer prescribe these DAs. Having suffered this due to taking another DA without any warning, I always make a point of warning people about these consequences.

It does sound as if you've at least started to suffer augmentation.

I suggest you therefore read up about this on this site.

The best way to resolve augmentation is to slowly reduce and then stop taking the DA.

You may need to replace it with some alternative RLS medication, but NOT another DA.

If you do decide to stop ropinirole, do NOT do it suddenly and better to start an alternative before you do it.

Unfortunately, the same doctors who prescribe DAs without telling people of the consequences, may not be aware of the consequences, fail to warn you and/or may not be aware that there are medications for RLS that do not cause augmentation.

Because of this you need to find as much as you can for yourself about the condition.

You may find this link helpful.

uptodate.com/contents/treat...

[Joolsg]

Listen to Manerva's advice. He knows what he's talking about. Dopamine Agonists like Ropinirole should be avoided as the side effect of Augmentation is horrific. There are better drugs available which experts now use, like pregabalin or low dose opioids.

[Docholiday1 in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks for this will be speaking to Doctor soon. Any Idea the diffrence between oxy codine and codine phosphate?

[Joolsg in reply to Docholiday1]

Codeine phosphate is not as strong as oxycodone/oxycontin. Oxycodone is a synthetic opioid.

[dklohrey]

This is the difficulty with RLS. One solution might work for one person and that same solution will not work for another. I too started on 2mg of ropinirole and it worked well for about 20 years. My GP then raised it to 3 mg when I started to get symptoms earlier in the day. That probably was not a good idea. Sooner or later I will have to face the fact that I am facing augmentation and try something else. My daughter, who also has RLS, recently was tested and found that her ferritin levels were low. The doctor prescribed heavy doses of iron and her RLS symptoms have almost disappeared.

[troopdad]

hey Doc,

I am 85 years old and have RLS for 80 of those years.I think that RLS is straight out of hell or some Dr would conquer it.. I am on a minimum dose of Ropinirole at about 300PM daily. RLS kicks in about 5/6 PM SO ROP HAS TIME TO WORK.

I also use Lidocaine 4per cent wipes they help ease the pain..Insurance will nott pay for 5%.. This may seem strange to you but SEX copulation eases the RLS some times.All of the above give the body a moment to relax and hopefully go to sleep..

Blessings

Troopdad..

[restlessnana6]

When it stops working the action is called augentation. If you are working with a pcp or a Neurologist, that can be either helpful or not. Find out how much they know about treatment options for RLS especially after augmentation. If they seem clueless, switch Doctors. While this might sound off the wall, many physicians who really understand RLS are using low doses of opiates Very, Very Successfully. Check out rls.org.

[Docholiday1 in reply to restlessnana6]

Thanks for this I am coming off the Ropinirole down to 1. Given Clonazipam to take at night. Still getting bad episodes though at least once a day.