RLS

[Gram1970]

Taking ropinirole 0.75 mg, with severe side effects, doctor said to stop taking it. At that low dose can I go cold turkey on stopping it.

[RLSofManyYears]

HiThe advice is to always taper down to zero. As you are on 0.75mg, which I'm assuming is either 3 x 0.25mg or 0.25mg + 0.5mg, then I would reduce it by 0.25mg per week. You have side effects for about 4 weeks but not as much as you would have if you suddenly stopped the 0.75mg. I hope this helps.

[Joolsg]

I think you would have trouble dropping 0.75mg cold turkey. How long have you been taking it and what are the side effects?As RLSof ManyYears suggests, if only on Ropinirole for a short time, drop 0.25mg a week. If for longer than 6 months, drop 0.25mg every 2 weeks.

Some people on Ropinirole for a short time don't seem to have a difficult withdrawal but we all react differently so monitor the effects after dropping the first 0.25mg.

Has your GP discussion raising your ferritin/iron & replacement meds?

[Gram1970 in reply to Joolsg]

I have been taking it for almost five months. My physician did tell me to take iron, which I started yesterday with vitamin C. I only took .25 mg last night.Went to the vitamin store and he sold me this powder to give me more electrolytes and a natural sleep aid. Started out to be a rough night, however finally went to sleep.

[Joolsg]

Could I ask what other meds you're taking?

[Gram1970 in reply to Joolsg]

I take clonazepam at bed time, morning bupropion. Bupropion is suppose to be the only antidepressant that does not aggravate RLS.

Have had OCD since a child, with that comes the anxiety and depression.

My mental health is good at this time, the OCD is horrible without the medication. My mind never shuts off, this also affected my sleep, rather lack of sleep. However I did stop taking the citalopram as you crave carbs, gained 15pounds, have never had a weight problem, always considered thin. I immediately started losing the weight, after a month I was at my normal weight. It was very difficult for about two months living without the medicine, with my physiatrist I learned to understand when my OCD gets out of control and remind myself it is the OCD reacting to the situation. I fixate on things, maybe a song, that is in my mind all the time when I am not absorbed in doing something. It can be a past event, this will last for a month or more, I have to make myself “Not think like that”. I see my doctor every three months, which really helps.

[Joolsg in reply to Gram1970]

Be careful of "natural sleep aids" as lots have anti histamines and make RLS much worse.As you've been on Ropinirole for 5 months, you could try dropping 0.25mg and monitor the effects. If your RLS plays up, wait until it settles before dropping the next 0.25mg.

It's hard to say whether you will have bad withdrawal symptoms as the majority do, but you may not. Starting a replacement med before you start reducing may alleviate many of the withdrawal symptoms. Clonazepam and buproprion are safe to take if you have RLS.

[Joolsg in reply to Gram1970]

OCD is insidious but I have 2 family members with it so know what you're going through. Anti depressants help the 'crisis' stage but CBT and a newer therapy ( can't remember the initials- aversion type therapy) can really help the ongoing intrusive thoughts.I hope the bupropion & CBT help. You have enough on your plate with RLS!

Wishing you strength & successful CBT.

[Gram1970 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you for suggesting CBT, will definitely look for information.

[WideBody]

I come here to offer help, but Joolsg said it all. This is a great place for information.