Pramipexole: I tried 1 pill of Cymbalta... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Pramipexole

Notlikinthis profile image
11 Replies

I tried 1 pill of Cymbalta. Disaster!!! I was awake ALL night, my left leg bouncing something fierce. The next day my right leg started going crazy and while I was driving. Good thing for cruise control... I called my doc and told her about the Cymbalta and she prescribed a new one that is pramipexole.

I don't know much about this drug and I'm very reluctant to try it. From stuff I've read about it on this site, its a lot like ropinerole if you want to stop taking it. Long time weaning off etc. What sort of drug is it? I read that it helps Parkinson's and RLS but how? Is it a dopamine agonist like the ropinerole?

What are some of your experiences? I haven't filled the scrip yet and I may not, depending upon what some of you tell me.

Thanks !

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Notlikinthis
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11 Replies
Madlegs1 profile image
Madlegs1

It is a DA.

If you've been on these before, and have had a bad experience, then DO NOT TAKE IT.

Your next line of defence would be Pregabalin or Gabapentin.

Starting at low dose and titrating up to achieve reasonable control. There are limits to the upper dose for RLS.

Good luck.

Elffindoe profile image
Elffindoe

OMG!

Did your doc give you Cymbalta for RLS?

That's just crazy!

Pramipexole can be effective for a while, but it's the second worst thing you can take for RLS.

As a dopamine agonist, like all dopamine agonists e.g. ropinirole or rotigotine it causes augmentation.

The only other drug with a higher risk of augmentation is levodopa.

Dopamine agonists are no longer recommended as the first treatment for RzLS because of augmentation.

If you've had a dopamine agonist before, e.g. ropinirole, then definitely don't take amother.

The first tecommended treatment for RLS is gabapentin or pregabalin.

See these links

mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/274...

Joolsg profile image
Joolsg

You've received excellent advice from Madlegs & Elffindoe. Read the Mayo new guidelines. Show them to your doctor. Clearly he/she knows nothing about RLS.All antidepressants worsen RLS ( except for about 4) . Join rls.org - it will be the best $35 you ever spend. They send a quarterly mag and have help groups throughout the USA. They also have free webinars with the top US experts.

Your GP should have taken full panel bloods first as raising serum ferritin above 100, preferably 250 can resolve the majority of cases without the need for meds.

And avoid Dopamine Agonists. They're no longer first line treatment because of Impulse Control Disorders and augmentation.

SueJohnson profile image
SueJohnson

You were warned not to take it. Now you know why. Now I hope you take the advice not to take pramipexole.

Notlikinthis profile image
Notlikinthis in reply to SueJohnson

Did not even fill the scrip.

SueJohnson profile image
SueJohnson in reply to Notlikinthis

Good

Rutheve1 profile image
Rutheve1

I recently spent a week in a psychiatric unit due to pramipexole effects , it caused severe hypersexuality, it very nearly destroyed my life, and my marriage .

Slipslopslap profile image
Slipslopslap

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE iTIf your doctor prescribed it for RLS, you need to find a new doctor.

Hope61 profile image
Hope61

I am going off it now and going on Gabapentin!

I was on pramipexole for 8 years. Worked great but then went into augmentation. The worst year of my life ensued. I tried several opioids trying to ween off pramipexole. None really worked. Finally got to see Dr. Buchfuhrer in Downey, CA . He started me on a program of methadone and gabapentin which after a few tweaks in dosage has worked really well. Ever since the pandemic started he does virtual appointments which makes it very convenient since I live in the Seattle area. He's very busy but well worth the wait. He's one of only a handful of RLS specialists in the states. He will get you on the right treatment program. His office number in Downey is 662-904-1101. I wish you the best with this terrible affliction.

Sorry, Dr. Buchfuhrer's office number is 562-904-1101.

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