I'm new to this group, so this might have been discussed already, but has anyone tried acupuncture for RLS? With this miserable malady, I have tried just about every natural remedy out there, but not that. Several of the natural renedies help, but not permanently. Ive been on 2 mg of ropinirol for 5 years or so and i would like to stop.
I take magnesium and to keep my iron levels up I take Geritol. Yes! That stuff is still around. The liquid form is easy on my stomach and it seems to be keeping my iron levels where they should be according to my doc. One thing she also suggested was a phytoestrogen cream. She said in older women, sometimes the lack of estrogen can contribute to RLS. Tried it. Worked a tiny bit but not that much.
Just a few random thoughts. The main one is RLS sucks!
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I think I have tried every single diet, supplement, gadget & alternative therapy ever suggested for RLS & wasted hundreds of pounds doing so.I always thought it might work. I’ve learned my lesson now & don’t bother trying anything except drugs/ medications that more than 4 people say has helped them and that the few RLS experts confirm works.
Ive just been prescribed medical cannabis oil containing 20% THC & it helps put me into ‘deep’ sleep for about 3/4 hours & that’s really helpful BUT it doesn’t really stop the RLS.
I have used illegal marijuana (to smoke) during withdrawal from Ropinirole & it stopped the horrendous withdrawal spasms/jerks for about half an hour.
Cannabis is useful for a few hours sleep & so if you can get hold of some- try it.
I think it would work better for me if my RLS were not so severe.
I'm so sorry that you have to endure this. Nobody really understands unless they have it. I can get cannabis products over in another state so I might give it a try, if anything to help me get off the ropinirol. I take 2 small tablets at night, 1 mg each. Do I cut them in half and just reduce the amount gradually?
Reduce it very gradually over 6-8 weeks has been my way of stopping. I’m an advocate of cannabis for medical or recreational use in moderation. I’m 53 now and back in my teens it was all mild mellow stuff. Today there are so many strains, hundreds and some are so strong bud and skunk and they in my opinion are not suitable except for stoners! Most people into smoking are amiable and love to chat so just ask and try a few different types. It’s natural and cheaper than medication. If you can get edibles they are great as I dislike smoking. However, these have to be made from cannabis butter as heat is needed to activate the THC from the CBD. You can do it yourself and make brownies it’s fairly simple but the drawback is it is time consuming and you have to stand to do it! Lol
Yes or ask your doctor for 0.25mg pills. Reduce Ropinirole by 0.25mg every 14 days & take tramadol 50mg to deal with flare up as you drop each dose.
Dr Winkleman & Dr. Buchfuhrer recommend a minimum of 3 months to reduce DAs.
Most people have horrendous withdrawal symptoms & sadly you just have to suffer. I only know 3/4 people on here who didn’t have a bad withdrawal.
Once off Ropinirole you’ll find daytime RLS disappears & the intensity will reduce.
Start replacement meds like pregabalin 3 weeks before last dose of Ropinirole & take 14 days off work as you’ll get little or no sleep for 10-14 days after last dose.
If you can find a knowledgeable doctor or live near an RLS expert, they may prescribe Buprenorphine or Methadone which both have excellent results and will help withdrawal symptoms.
Raise your serum ferritin above 250 as this also helps withdrawal & RLS longterm.
I made a decision to wean off of ropinirole due to augmentation after being on it for several years. My neurologist just kept increasing the ropinirole and I was having increasing symptoms not only at night but during the day, as well. I was miserable! I read on here about someone who used kratom to help them get through the withdrawal process, and I have to say this is DEFINITELY the way to go! I had NO increase in RLS and no withdrawal symptoms as I weaned off of ropinirole, and I attribute this to the kratom tea. It only took me a few months to get off of the ropinirole completely because I had the help of the tea. Yay!! I wish everyone out there much luck getting off of the DAs.
Hi, I have just started an experiment with acupuncture as I am able to get the costs refunded under a health plan. I have tried acupuncture in the past for knee pain and anxiety and I am pretty certain in both cases there was no effect although without a control it’s always difficult to tell. The only reason I persist is the experience of a close relative who, in desperation as a last resort, tried acupuncture for intense post operative pain after a back operation and found it worked. This person is someone who, to put it kindly has treated their body like an amusement park and in normal circumstances would have never given acupuncture a second thought so I find it hard to discount it completely. If anything improves I will let you know.
I have tried everything I think. Was thinking of trying Acupuncture but after reading on the Forum that for most people it didn’t work I haven’t done it. Well at least I’ve not wasted any money. The only thing that seems to work for me SOMETIMES is heat and that not always, as like tonight I am up after 2 hrs sleep like the last 10 nights and I was so tired yesterday I took a sleeping tablet. I take one about every 7-10 nights as the build up of fatigue is unbearable and I just can’t function. It will keep me asleep 4/5 hrs consecutively most times which is good for me. I know it doesn’t do anything for RLS but I get a bit more sleep. Sometimes feel drowsy in morning though. I can’t function on so little sleep and am trying to prepare a move at the moment. (On my own). I am getting depressed about this as it looks like we just have to live with it.
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