Just started taking Horizant

[Beckonwood]

I just started taking Horizant. I have been on Percocet for over 15 years. But I wanted to see if I could take something else as I start taking the percocet at 5:00 PM and take a half pill every hour until 11:00 when I turn the lights off in my bedroom and go to sleep. It has worked very well but I wanted to see if I could take something that would be just one or two pills early in the day and wouldnt have to be tied to taking the percocet which does make me itch somewhat. Well after taking several nights of the Horizant I find that I wake up around one or two in the morning with a terrible case of RLS. I then take a percocet which eventually helps the RLS. Can anyone who takes Horizant give me any advice on how you take it or does it take awhile for it to work. I willadd that I have gone through most of the medications for Parkinson. I was on Mirapex for quite a few years and was taking more and more of it to help with the RLS. I am open to any advice someone has.

[Madlegs1]

If the Percocet on its own wasn't controlling the RLS, then something else is at play. (Oxynorm plus paracetamol)

What other medications are you taking currently?

Or food/ drink triggers?

[Beckonwood in reply to Madlegs1]

The percocet works fine. I just wanted to get off of it and hopefully take one pill daily instead of taking a half pill of percocet every hour starting at 5pm. But the Horizant isn't working it seems

[Madlegs1 in reply to Beckonwood]

By any chance are you taking any form of magnesium- antacid or other?If taken within 2 hours of Horizant it will prevent it working fully.

[Beckonwood in reply to Madlegs1]

No I am not

[Madlegs1 in reply to Beckonwood]

Grand, so!

[Elffindoe]

Here's a few things you may wish to consider

1) see what Madlegs says

2) If you stopped taking the percocet then you may have withdawl effects from this which would make your RLS worse. Especially if you stopped it suddenly.

3) Horizant may take 3 to 4 weeks before it starts fully working. You also have to be taking a sufficient dose. It's usual to begin with a low "starting" dose then increase it until it works, There's no fixed dose which is the same for everybody.

4) Generally speaking if you take a RLS medication too early, then you will wake up early. It's a matter of finding the best time to take it, i.e. not so late that symptoms start before taking it, but not so early it wears off too early.

[Beckonwood in reply to Elffindoe]

Im wondering if I could take the percocet along with the Horizant until the horizant is in my system. I am looking for a neurologist who is familiar with RLS and so far have not found one but am going on line and calling their offices to inquire. Takes a long time though. So appreciate everyone's response

[Elffindoe in reply to Beckonwood]

Yes you can take percocet and horizant together.

[BeachGolfer]

I had severe insomnia from both Neurontin and Horizant.

[Elffindoe in reply to BeachGolfer]

That's a little unusual, they should aid sleep not prevent.

Perhaps there's some other factor behind your insomnia.

[BeachGolfer]

That’s what I initially thought. However, it is listed as a side effect in WebMD and RxxList.