Restless Legs

[Shewie]

Hi everyone just been to Drs to try and get of Sifrol, this is what the Dr told me to do. Currently on 2 mg of Sifrol,

Week one Take 1.75mg Sifrol

Week 2 take 1.5mg sifrol

Week 3 take 1.25mg sifrol

Week 4 Take 1mg Sifrol and 100mg Gabapentin

Week 5 Take 0.750mg Sifrol and 100mg Gabapentin

Week 6 0.500mg Sifrol and 100mg Gapapentin

Week 7 0.250mgs Sifrol and 100mg Gabapentin

Week 8 stop taking Sifrol and 100mg Gabapentin

My question is is this to fast to get of Sifrol , I told him what everyone has said on this site and he said rubbish Sifrol is not that bad to get of them I’m worried that I’m going to stop to quickly and have a lot of problems pls help me

[Joolsg]

Don't you just love doctors who think they know what withdrawal from Sifrol is like.First, if he's the doctor who prescribed 2mg Sifrol, he needs reporting to the Australian authorities. That is 4 times the maximum dose.

The US experts are clear that the higher the dose and the longer you've been on it, the longer the withdrawal.

Dr Buchfuhrer and Dr Winkelman both advise at least 6 months in cases of negligent over prescription like yours.

Such a high dose will have caused a massive 'over reaction' by your D1 receptors causing augmentation.

In conclusion, I would reduce over 6 months minimum.

Start the gabapentin in the final month if reduction.

In the meantime, get full panel bloods and ensure serum ferritin is above 100, preferably 200 as raising levels can reduce augmentation and make withdrawal slightly less difficult.

Read all the posts on Pramipexole on here and you'll find all the others who have been on it and managed to get off high doses.

Keep usupdated.

Good luck.

[Shewie in reply to Joolsg]

Joolsg he is not the Dr who put me one 2mg that was a neurologist back in 2016

[Joolsg in reply to Shewie]

Good to hear but you should report the neurologist who prescribed such a high dose of Pramipexole.

[Joolsg]

Hi Shewie,Did you contact Dr Richard Warren in Perth as recommended? He will do phone consultations and does know about RLS and the latest Mayo algorithm.

As Jules says, he WILL prescribe low dose opioids to help with withdrawal.

Did you stop the other 2 drugs you were taking that worsen RLS? The seroquel and the Endep? You need to find replacements for them as BOTH worsen RLS.

[Shewie]

Joolsg no I haven’t contacted Dr Richard Warren sorry didn’t see that part but will give him ago. I cannot take antidepressants this is the only thing I have found to help me, I’ve been on them for years and my legs have been giving me grief for just a few years. Drs tell me that there isn’t much choice because my legs reacts to a lot of pills, and wouldn’t changing everything at once put me in hell with my legs.

[Joolsg in reply to Shewie]

I understand but the first thing doctors should look at is the medication you're already taking and, if it's a med that worsens RLS, slowly reduce it and replace with a safe alternative. Seroquel is an anti depressant and triggers RLS.However, speak to Dr Warren and he will guide you off Pramipexole and talk about replacement for the seroquel and Endep.

[SueJohnson]

Seroquel interacts with Sifrol and causes tiredness. Endep also causes tiredness. I notice from your previous post that you had problems with driving and possibly falling asleep. I also note you have increased your Endep from 10 mg a year ago to 50 mg . This has been recommended to you before, but you need to get off both of them and switch to Bupropion which can be prescribed off label. Joolsg has given you good advice. Let each reduction of Sifrol settle before reducing each time. Your doctor has you reducing too much each time. Also you should take 300 mg gabapentin, not 100. And don't stop it when you stop Sifrol. I have given you advice before on taking gabapentin. Print off the appropriate sections from the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS to show to your doctor.

[Jules1953]

I spent 18 months slowly weaning off 3mg of Sifrol. During the last few months I used 5mg of oxycodone to assist me with the horrendous withdrawal symptoms.