IRON INFUSIONS AND GABAPENTIN HAS ELIMINATED MY RLS

[Pepper163]

I have suffered from RLS for 15 years. I have augmented on ROPINEROLE. I was referred to DR. Winkelstein at MGH in boston. He is a Sleep Specialist who specializes in treating RLS

My Ferritin levels were very low. I have received 2 Iron transfusion and started on Gabapentin...I HAVEN'T HAD ANY RLS SINCE THEN. IT HAS SAVED MY LIFE.

Talk to your PCP and have your feritin levels checked. Discuss having Iron Infusions. Iron supplents may not be enough to get to the Central Nervous system and they cause GI problems. IRON INFUSIONS bypass the GI tract.

I am still on ropinerole. Also the Gabapentin has to be taken at specific times. Use an alarm on your phone to remember to take them.

It is midnight and I am sitting on my couch with my legs relaxed.....

Talk to your Doctor' s about this new treatment.

RLS IS CHRONIC PAIN AND IT SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

[Angel0077]

Hi I’m also on gabapentin which is helping amazingly !

Quick q what do you mean by taking at a certain time ? What time do you take yours please

[Hidden in reply to Angel0077]

The recommended time is 2 hours before bedtime. It's also helpful for RLS sufferers to go to bed at the same time every day as part of sleep hygiene.

It might also need a bit of trial and error. If you take it too early, then you may get early morning symptoms. If you take it too late symptoms may start before it takes effect and/or you may feel drowsy in the morning.

It also depends on the dose. If you take more than 600mg then it's more effective to split the dose because of it's inconsistent absorption properties

[Pepper163 in reply to Angel0077]

9am, 2pm and 7pm...i am use to keeping myself busy during the day so I can TRY to sleep at night....i use the alarm on my phone to Adher to taking per MD orders....

[Hidden in reply to Pepper163]

Just curious, why do you take it 3 times a day?

Also if the ropinirole caused you augmentation, why are you still taking it?

[LotteM]

Pepper, thank you for sharing. It is always good to hear good news. I am very happy for you. I hope the iron worked so well that you can even come off especially the ropinirole completely. And the gabapentin. I don't know about you, but I'd rather go without medicines - if only I could. Unfortunately, my iron infusion did mot improve my RLS; I am one of the about 20% unhappy few 🙁.

[Hidden]

Good news indeed. Thanks for sharing this.

[2islandboy]

Hi, I see a Dr. Winkelman at MGH and not a Winkelstein. Very Impressive research physician, but then that's MGH/Harvard:

massgeneral.org/doctors/194...

massgeneral.org/psychiatry/...