RLS Breakthrough Number 3

[davidadill]

Last night I had restless legs while watching television, so I went outside and walked 30 yards and then I climbed 68 steps two at a time. After doing that I was able to sit down on the couch for 2 1/2 hours before my legs started to bother me again. That led me to the conclusion that instead of taking my RLS drugs an hour and a half before going to bed, instead I should take him exactly when I am ready to go to bed, because climbing stairs will give me protection for plenty of time until the drugs kick in. That way the drugs will be able to help me later in the night.

Note: this only works if I have not taken significant caffeine in the last 6 hours.

[Joolsg]

Good to hear the self help tips. Are you still taking Ropinirole 1.5mg or have you managed to reduce it?

[davidadill in reply to Joolsg]

I doctor told me to take 2.5mg before I starting climbing stair again. Perhaps I should experiment with a lower dose.

[Joolsg in reply to davidadill]

You should NEVER increase the dose if it stops working. All dopamine agonists cause augmentation eventually & increasing the dose makes it even more likely.

Better to slowly reduce to the lowest dose. If you’re suffering augmentation- only solution is to get off it and onto alternative meds.

[Alex2308]

Body weight squads always help. I've been doing it for years. I do it one legged way, 20-25 reps on each leg standing in a doorway, holding by it.

[Sueloops]

I am also finding that exercise combined with the 0.18mg Pramipexole taken on a night is proving really beneficial. I am currently affected by RLS after my dog walk on an afternoon, and even if I'm just standing doing some ironing or moving around doing housework I am usually OK within maybe 30 minutes. The worst onset of RLS starts around 7pm, so I take my tablet then get on the exercise bike for 20-30mins (usually reading a book at the same time). If it still hasn't settled down completely we do have an old vibration plate which I get on for 10mins and it provides immediate relief. By then the pill is starting to kick in so I have my hot bath then off to bed. Generally I sleep, though sometimes I toss and turn a lot, but happily I don't suffer with RLS through the night.