Bupropion and RLS

[jaime77]

Hi! Can I just ask if anyone has been on zyban (bupropion) and it’s helped with their RLS symptoms? And also can you take ropinirol while taking zyban?

[Joolsg]

I take 0.4mg Buprenorphine and it has been miraculous. You shouldn't take it with Ropinirole though. First you have to get off Ropinirole and most GPs will prescribe gabapentin or pregabalin before opioids.

Everyone advised you to start reducing Ropinirole months ago as you're in full blown augmentation.

Have you started reducing and what dose are you down to now?

[fuzzie in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Joolsg,

I have been on Buprenorphine 0.4mg for 2 months now but I find I suffer from vomiting and migraines. Only by reducing the dose to roughly three quarters can I control these side effects, but then the RSL goes rampant. I do find if I take the full dose it is very effective but its a hollow victory feeling like death with the sore head and nausia. Did you suffer any side effects pls?

[Joolsg in reply to fuzzie]

I had Horrendous nausea and vomiting for the first 2 weeks. Couldn't eat. I felt dreadful. I then remembered Cannabis is used by chemo patients to reduce nausea and I have medical cannabis oil with THC. I took 0.4ml every night for a week, then stopped and the nausea had gone.I take half the 0.4mg pill at 10 pm and the other half at 12.30 am.

I didn't have headaches but did get panic attacks after 5 weeks. I took pregabalin 50mg for a few weeks, reduced to 25mg for a few nights, stopped pregabalin and the panic attacks had gone.

Normally the nausea disappears within the first few weeks.

You can try quells, the Scop sickness patch or ask your GP to prescribe Zofran ( although I think you can only get Zofran through a hospital pharmacy in the UK).

If you can get can medical cannabis, that will help the nausea.

Perhaps low dose pregabalin for a few weeks would stop the headaches? Ask your GP to consider prescribing 50mg a night for a month to see if it stops the headaches.

I really hope you can sort out the side effects because it is so effective for RLS.

[LotteM in reply to fuzzie]

In addition to Joolsg's advice, fuzzie. Maybe you can play around a bit. And do like Joolsg and take the 0.4mg in two parts. One early evening, one before bed? I really hope you soon get control of these nasty side effects.

[LotteM]

I think Joolsg misread the name. Bupropion is Wellbutrin, an antidepressant. It is one of the few that supposedly does not worsen RLS. That does not mean it will help with the RLS. Can't help you more, asI have no experience with it.

There is another post today by Sahhara about Wellbutrin. Do check it out for other replies.

[Joolsg in reply to LotteM]

You're right! Mea Culpa.

[Joolsg]

Sorry, just realised I misread Bupropion as Buprenorphine.As Lotte says, wellbutrin (bupropion) is an anti depressant that doesn't worsen RLS and it can be taken with Ropinirole.

However, your RLS will stay severe until you get off Ropinirole completely.

Hope you can manage to do that.

[SueJohnson]

I was one of the ones that advised you to get off ropinirole and how to do it. If you want me to repeat it here, let me know. I also suggested you get your ferritin tested. Did you do that?

[jaime77 in reply to SueJohnson]

Hey! Yes I did get my ferritin levels checked they’re at 67 so they have improved but I can’t get off the ropinirol 🙈 it’s unbearable! I’m on 0.50 so I have reduced but I can’t cope not taking them at all 🙈

[Kmoore464]

I take 300 mg of b and 1 of r. Trying to wean off of r

[Rlssucks1]

I take magnesium for RLS and it really helps. I've taken prescription medications that helped a little but magnesium works better (too much gives you diarrhea). Also, many people don't know that reducing intakes of sodium, caffeine, and sugar items helps tremendously. Knowing how you feel, I hope this helps you.

[Hope61]

JaimeI am on 100mg Wellbutrin for depression and300mg Gabapentin for RLS.

I went off Mirapex because of the augmentation . I was taking Sertraline for depression but was advised by a doctor at a RLS quality center in Pittsburgh to switch to Wellbutrin. I don't know if it helped with my RLS because I went on the Wellbutrin and Gabapentin within a few weeks of each other. But they are working well together !