Weaning off of Sinamet and Mirapex and onto Methadone

[Tobias10]

When I first started having RLS symptoms my family doctor tried to assist by giving me Sinemet and some other drug with alternating doses but it did not control the leg spasms so I started sleeping on the sofa and listening to the music of the Mystic Moods Orchestra. A fried had introduced me to their music and it is very relaxing to listen to. They play music along with rain and train whistles. It may not affect others like i did me, but I do remember it helped alot.

Two months ago I began weaning off of Sinemet and onto 5mg of Methadone. I began with adding Methadone for 2 weeks and then I stopped taking my morning dose of Sinemet for two weeks. After that I stopped taking my Sinemet tablet at night time. After another two weeks I stopped taking my 1mg of Mirapex in the morning. The last step was to stop my 1mg of Mirapex at bedtime but on the second night without it I started having leg spasms mid morning and I started having some tremors in my fingers and hands fo the first time. My new neurologist decided to put me on a half dose more of Methadone but the small pills are difficult to split so he told me to increase my Methadone by 5mg in the morning, so I now take 5mg and 5mg at nighttime. That seems to be working but he ultimately wants me off of Mirapex altogether. He said the tremors may settle down once my body gets used to the withdrawal symptoms. I am sleeping so much better with the Methadone and I wish I had found this doctor much sooner.

[SueJohnson]

Stopping 1 mg of mirapex at one time is too fast. The normal reduction schedule is .25 mg every 2 weeks, and sometimes that is too much. You may need to reduce more slowly or with a smaller amount. Wait until the increased symptoms from each reduction has settled before going to the next one. Are you no longer taking the gabapentin?

[Tobias10 in reply to SueJohnson]

I have been taking Gabapentin all along with no change. I did actually transition from each reduction beautifully with no effects until I removed that last 1mg of Mirapex. That is when the Methadone could not keep everything in check. I began taking a Methadone in the morning in addition to the one I have been taking in the evening but by mid morning I'm ready to lay down and sleep the day away. I have now started to reduce my morning Methadone pill by not using all of the broken pieces that I had put together when I tried splitting the pills. Today is my first day just using one half of that 5mg Methadone pill so hopefully I will be good all day.

[DataRN in reply to Tobias10]

I recommend reducing the Mirapex very, very slowly. It can take months if not years to successfully eliminate Mirapex. I was on Requip and it took me 3 years to completely stop it. In the very end I was taking a tiny piece of a 0.25mg tablet. Reducing it any faster set me back significantly. Good luck to you!

[Nikos64]

I was on Mirapex long time ago. Initially, the results were spectacular. Not only, did it act quickly and effectively, it also knocked me out. However as time went on it became less effective and I’d wake up at 3am after falling asleep at 10pm. The rest of the night was RLS experienced almost everywhere. My doctor increased the dosage and after being initially effective the RLS came back more intensely.

My doctor cut me off cold turkey and I nearly lost my mind. Tramadol along with gabapentin works for me. Either drug alone is useless. Everyone is different but the stories I’ve heard from others is how bad drugs like mirapex are.

Best wishes for restful sleep.

[Shelleam]

I had weaned of Mirapex a few years ago and had horrible withdrawal for several weeks. So hang in there. I went thru several prescribed drugs without success and now methadone. I split 5 mg tablets in 1/2 and have slept better than I have in years. Hopefully, once you are thru withdrawal you'll get relief.