What’s Up??

[Woody4]

Recently started on gabapentin, coming off pramipexole. Still taking pramipexole, cutting back as I go. Everything started out fine, sleeping through the night was great. I felt like a new man. Now 2 out of the last 3 nights, when I’ve taken the combo within 30 minutes I’m having the symptoms. What’s up?? Is it me augmenting or is the meds causing the symptoms?? Should I stop taking the pramipexole all together??

[Joolsg]

While you're still on any pramipexole, RLS will continue to play up. What dose of Pramipexole are you down to? As you reduce the pramipexole, the RLS will worsen. You wait until it settles and then reduce again. The slower the better. Do not stop taking pramipexole suddenly. Take a minimum of 3 months. The gabapentin takes 3 weeks to be fully effective ( and don't take magnesium within 3 hours either side). Gabapentin won't help fully until about 3 weeks after the last dose of pramipexole. It's a very difficult process for the majority. I only know of about 3 people on this site who have not had a traumatic withdrawal from DAs.

[BAK524 in reply to Joolsg]

Why no magnesium?

[Woody4 in reply to BAK524]

I take 420 mg of magnesium every morning.

[Joolsg in reply to BAK524]

Magnesium reduces efficacy of the Alpha2Delta ligands if taken 3 hours before or after. It's fine to take as long as you time it right. Look up interactions for gabapentin and pregabalin.

[Woody4 in reply to Joolsg]

First I’ve heard about the magnesium and gabapentin. Seems I read where magnesium was helpful for RLS??

[Joolsg in reply to Woody4]

It is for some but if you take it 3 hours before or after Alpha2delta ligands ( Gabapentin, pregabalin, Horizant) it reduces their effectiveness.

[Woody4 in reply to Joolsg]

Ok, Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Woody,

I believe you only started on gabapentin about 10 days ago, so it may not be working yet.

I'm not sure, but perhaps I'm one of the people Jools referring to who did not have a traumatic withdrawal from pramipexole. I explain this by the fact that only reduced the dose once every FOUR weeks.

However, I read that MOST people suffer withdrawals to some extent, so it would seem that's what's happening to you and is nothing unusual.

You are on the right track and just need to persevere. I am so sorry it's so difficult for you, but you do appear to be doing OK.

Please keep us informed of your progress.

[Woody4 in reply to Hidden]

I just went down to .25 mg pramipexole. I’ve been trying to reduce .25 at a time. Guess I should stay there for a few weeks?? I still have the question of why is it I feel fine until 20-30 minutes after taking the meds. I was thinking about, if I feel like that again, maybe not taking the pramipexole at all.

[Hidden in reply to Woody4]

I can only say that the amount you're reducing by is FOUR times what I reduced by.

Hence there's nothing up.

The withdrawal effects you're experiencing are not unusual.

[Woody4 in reply to Hidden]

The 1 mg pills I’m given are scored to cut in half. To cut again is hard, anything after that can’t be done.

[Hidden in reply to Woody4]

You'll find it easier with the 0.125mg tablets, ask for some.

1mg is above the maximum dose.

[Woody4 in reply to Hidden]

The VA buys by bulk and you have no control of the pill size they send.

[DerAusgewanderte]

as others already wrote, you are on the right track. I completed my weaning off phase within 4 weeks. Only after 0 pramipexole was when I got horrible (that is a terrible understatement) RLS and withdrawal symptoms. I've described that experience in another post and it follows exactly the FB sheet that was passed around here a little while ago.

It lasted for about 2 weeks and my body got back to normal. Keep doing what you are doing. For me the 2 weeks of agony was worth it. I can only describe it like a miracle but my RLS went almost completely away.

[Deeperside]

I fairly recently stopped Pramipexole using Kratom, with no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever, it was a complete breeze. No idea if you can get hold of some where you are but it eliminated all withdrawal symptoms for me, and I know how bad they can be as I tried once to stop cold turkey but only managed four days before resuming the pramipexole. I’m not sure I’d recommend kratom long term though, but as you are now on gabapentin there shouldn’t be a need. Hope it goes well whatever you decide.

[134A in reply to Deeperside]

Hi DeepersideWhy did you want to stop Pramipexole and what improvement have you seen since you did?

Are you still taking the Keaton ?

[Deeperside in reply to 134A]

Hi, I was taking pramipexole for 13 years, and whilst it worked at nights for me, my legs were very unsettled during the day, and no way was I upping the dosage, as you pay for it longer term with augmentation. I prefer not taking pharmaceuticals, but I may have to in future as I’m not sure taking kratom long term is great either, despite it working very well for me. I’m still taking kratom, red vein Borneo at night, around 7 grams, and this generally sees me through the night, though my legs do wake me up around 6am, which is fine as I get up then anyway.

My legs are far more settled now I’m off the pramipexole, and took about a month after quitting the pramipexole to get to this stage. I’m not saying my legs don’t ever bother me during the day, as they do at times, but nothing near as bad as they were on dopamine agonists.

Cheers

[Woody4 in reply to Deeperside]

I’m still taking .25 mg of pramipexole along with 300 mg of gabapentin. I tried stopping the pram after being on the gaba for a couple really good weeks of sleep. I was only able to stop 1 night. The next day at around noon the augmenting started and it was the worst I have ever had. It lasted all day and into most of the night. Taking my nightly meds didn’t help. Consequently since then I have been taking the .25 mg of pram with the gaba. Minerva, if you are out there, how small a dose of pram did you go down to before you were able to quit it all together??

Yesterday I had a very mild day of augmenting. Should I go to 600 mg of gaba before it gets worse??

[134A in reply to Deeperside]

Thanks I am also taking Pramipexole for about 2 years now(4years DX) I don’t like pharmaceuticals either and recently had Levo/carb added to the Pramipexole & Rasiligine. Due to worsening symptoms. Possibly brought on or acellerated by Pfizer doses? I can see a long road ahead of pharma products being piled on 😕. I’m looking for viable alternatives.Thanks again