indigestion tabs.

[Whymelord]

HI,can anyone please tell me if Lansoprazole,exacerbates RLS thankyou.

[SueJohnson]

It is a PPI and inhibits iron absorption. It shouldn't affect RLS but some people say it does. You can try it and see. If it does a safe substitute is Gaviscon.

[Whymelord in reply to SueJohnson]

thankyou SueJohnson.

[Jelbea]

I have just read of research in USA last year which links PPI drugs to restless legs. I do not know how to post a link but if you google PPIs and restless leg syndrome you will find it. Certainly many others on this site have found a connection. PPIs interfere with absorption of iron and also reduce acid production for your digestion. Antacids which do not reduce acid production seem to be OK. I use gaviscon or Bisodol tablets with no problem.

[Whymelord in reply to Jelbea]

Thankyou Jelbea,I will definitely look at information on ppi's,every single piece of advice is worth considering.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Jelbea]

Agree! PPIs definitely set off RLS.

[Joolsg]

The majority of RLS patients find PPI meds worsen RLS. Pippins posted recently that a similar drug Omperazole gave her a really bad night.

[Butterflysun1]

I had understood that Proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s ) did often exacerbate RLS. Gaviscon & Bisodol are sadly not direct substitutes so it depends why you need to take it. PPI’s reduce acid production so as well as helping the feeling of heartburn or pain from an ulcer they also help the ulcer or inflammation from the acid to heal. Gaviscon etc helps neutralise acid present at the time so can help releave reflux or indigestion symptoms but it is less effective & doesn’t help healing so it depends why you need to take it.

Gavisson/Bisodol were what were used before the PPI’s were invented though they also have their place still

[Lola43]

Hi Whymelord

(Love your username by the way) - yes I took lansoprazole couple of days ago and my RLS went off the scale. Every time I take that or omeprazole I get really bad RLS. When I mentioned it to the GP he said he wasn’t aware if that being a side effect. However it definitely is for me !

I think it’s to do with the blocking of iron absorption tbh.

I take gaviscon and I don’t get the issue.

Lola x

[Moonwalker1967 in reply to Lola43]

Same here. I stopped taking it!

[Whymelord in reply to Lola43]

hI Lola43,I'm glad you like my name,its what I shout out every blooming night when I'm walking the floors😴I have started taking Pregablin again hoping it works.

[Jumpey]

It didn't for me.If you can take it successfully keep an eye on your iron levels because it inhibits mineral absorption.

[Whymelord in reply to Jumpey]

hI Jumpy,thankyou for replying, I'm just gonna buy Gaviscon as it seems to be the one to use.I was on Pregablin for a short while,I didn't like the side effects so I went back to taking Pramipexole which did not help. Last night I stopped the Pramipexole and took 1 Pregablin, I had a horrendous night,I'm hoping it will improve as the Pregablin kicks in,good luck.

[Joolsg in reply to Whymelord]

What dose of Pramipexole were you taking? It's always best to reduce dopamine agonists very slowly. Stopping cold turkey overnight is extremely difficult and traumatic

If you're on 0.088 pill at night, try cutting it in half and reduce by half a tablet every 2 to 3 weeks. If on more, the same applies- reduce by half a pill every 2 to 3 weeks.

Withdrawal symptoms are very tough, all over severe RLS for at least 4 to 5 days and then another 10 days of sleepless nights.

You need to start the pregabalin 3 weeks before you stop the last dose of Pramipexole so it has chance to become fully effective. It won't stop the withdrawal symptoms but it will help your RLS once the Pramipexole is out of your system.

Ask your GP for a short term of low dose opioids to get you through the Pramipexole withdrawal. Tramadol or codeine or oxycodone. During the weeks after the last Pramipexole dose, they'll really help.

[Whymelord in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Joolsg,I was halfing 0.18 tab.sometimes I would take the whole one.I have Cocodamol would they be ok to take.I started 1 75gm.pregablin.

[Joolsg in reply to Whymelord]

I suggest you see GP and ask him to prescribe the lower dose pills. They come in 0.088 & 0 .18. So ask for your usual prescription but in the smaller dose pills. You are currently on one ×0 18 pill a night. That's equivalent to 2x0.088 pills.

Tonight, go back on your usual dose as it's far too difficult to stop cold turkey.

When you get 0 .088 pills,cut one in half and reduce by half a 0.088 pill every 2 to 3 weeks. It will take you 2 to 3 months to reduce to zero. As you reduce each dose, you may need tramadol or codeine to deal with the intense RLS. You can slow down the reduction if it becomes unbearable. The US experts advise a 6 month reduction time if you have been on Pramipexole for years at high dose.

Start pregabalin when you are one month away from your last dose of Pramipexole.

Co codamol can help withdrawals but it would be better to ask your GP for codeine ( without paracetamol).



[Whymelord in reply to Joolsg]

oh,thankyou soo much for this information, I will take your advice.

[Jumpey]

Gaviscon Advance will work for mild to moderate reflux.

Good luck with the Pregabalin.

[SueJohnson]

When you were on pregabalin before did you give it time for the side effects to subside which they often do or at least lesson. If not you might want to try gabapentin. Although they are basically the same drug except on pregabalin you don't need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. The beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin. As Joolsg said start it 3 weeks before you are off pramipexole although it won't be fully effective until you are off it for several weeks. After that increase it by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Take it 1-2 hours before bedtime. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin daily."

[Whymelord in reply to SueJohnson]

HI SueJohnson,thankyou for replying, I don't believe I did give pregablin a chance,I'm in desperation now to get ease from this accursed thing.i have 75gm tabs,took one last night also took co codamol, had a horrendous night,no sleep.I will try what you suggest and pray it works for me.

[SueJohnson in reply to Whymelord]

Once you are off the pramipexole for several weeks you can increase it by 25 mg every couple of days. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 200 to 300 mg of pregabalin daily."

[Whymelord in reply to SueJohnson]

Thankyou