Advice please - Lyrica

[Flora-Rose]

For the last year or so I have been taking sinemet which usually relieved the RLS symptoms and enabled me to relax in the evening and sleep reasonably well. The inevitable augmentation occurred about a month ago and I have since stopped all but 1 cr25/100 an hour before bedtime. Recent evenings I spent sewing or playing cards which have kept me symptom free ….(more ideas like this welcomed).

Unable to obtain a buprenorphine prescription I have now started to take Lyrica 50 mg. daily. Please advise me when to take in order to stop evening and night symptoms, how I should progress ( I have a supply of 25mg capsules ) and at what point to stop the cr 25/100

many thanks

Flora.Rose

[SueJohnson]

On the sinemet I would cut the pill in quarters and reduce by 1 quarter and wait until any symptoms settle before reducing by another quarter. On the Lyrica it takes 3 weeks to be fully effective and won't be completely effective until you have been off sinemet for a few weeks. You should take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. After you have been on it 3 weeks, increase it by 25 mg every 2 days until you find the dose that works for you. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS most patients need 200 to 300mg. Since it won't be completely effective until you are off sinemet for awhile, when you are, you can try reducing it. Most side effects are mild and go away after a few weeks and those that don't are usually worth it for the relief it brings.

[Joolsg]

Did you try Dr Bagary at the Sleep clinic in Birmingham for Buprenorphine and get your actual blood figures?Sue has advised on the lyrica( pregabalin).

[Flora-Rose in reply to Joolsg]

Yes, my GP is in the process of referring me to Dr Bagary, and he says he will see me. but there is likely to be long wait. The blood situation seems in the much too difficult tray. Thanks Joolsg.