Just saw a neurologist today. Wrote a new prescription for Pramipexole Dihydrochloride 0.25MG.
Any information on this drug would be appreciated.
( Currently on 1200MG Gabapentin, if the new prescription works, I could take less Gabapentin if need be.)
Pramipexole is a dopamine agonist like ropinirole. Up to 70% of people will eventually suffer augmentation according to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which believe me you don't want because it can be hell to come off it and the longer you are on it, the harder it will be to come off it and the more likely your dopamine receptors will be damaged . Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which discusses augmentation and the latest guidelines on RLS treatment. Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...
Thank you for the reply Sue, not what I wanted to hear, but it is what it is. Thanks for the article, I'll read it and share with the doctor.
Why do you want to reduce the gabapentin? Is it not working? Or do you have side effects you can't live with?
Often I feel I doesn't help, my RLS is so sporadic I can't pin point anything that's good or bad as a remedy. Been on Gabapentin for only two years, (1200mg) however starting to get side effects. One is balance and another is vision, where if reading , the print just jumps around making it unreadable. Both are sporadic. Doctor feels it's the Gabapentin and that I maybe addicted with it. Also if I can "reduce" any medication I'm good with that.
You aren't addicted but you are having side effects. Vision problems and balance can be some of them. You might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although they are basically the same drug except 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. Divide the gabapentin amount by 6 to get the correct dose so in your case that would be 200 pregabalin. If you take magnesium don't take it within 3 hours of the pregabalin as it reduces the absorption of the pregabalin.
If you decide to reduce or come off the gabapentin do so very very slowly to avoid withdrawal effects. If you do so you won't have any.
I have the same symptoms on Pregabalin. Going to see an eye specialists soon as I am getting double vision. Also I can feel unsteady on my feet. But the Pregabalin allows me to sleep and that is worth everything. I augmented on Pramipexole previously as well and yes it was hard to get off. I am off to a neurologist next week and I want to look at my iron situation. You have to keep trying 😊
You might want to try switching to gabapentin. Although they are basically the same drug except you 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. Multiply the pregabalin amount by 6 to get the correct dose. 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. If you take magnesium don't take it within 3 hours of the gabapentin as it reduces the absorption of the gabapentin.
stop earing sugar. I had restless legs for 8 years and stopped eating sugar, gluten, weat,dairy. Combining that with iron and plantarium 299v and 90% of my rls went away
BE VERY CAREFUL! That drug can have very serious side effects and can cause augmentation. Do research on the side effects before taking
i was prescribed pramipexole 88 mg in 2007 for severe rls. the first tablet gave me immediate relief. over the following three years the dose was upgraded and i now take three 0.18 mg tablets with two co-codamol 30/500 spread over twelve hours. it takes about three hours to kick in. i feel that they do not work so well so over the past two years i have been trying alternatives, with some disasterous results. including wrecking my car. i am now 82 and still have severe rls.but still taking pramipexole.
regards pete.
It sounds like you may be augmenting if you have had to increase the dose and it is not working as well. These are the signs of augmentation: when you have to keep increasing your dose to get relief, or when your symptoms occur earlier in the day or there is a shorter period of rest or inactivity before symptoms start or when they move to other parts of your body (arms, trunk or face) or when the intensity of your symptoms worsen. Does this sound like what is happening to you?
hi sue, all those symtoms apply. regards pete.
Then you need to come off it. To come off pramipexole reduce by .088 mg every 2 weeks or so. You will have increased symptoms. 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. You will suffer and may need a low dose opioid temporarily to help out with the symptoms especially as you near the end. But in the long run, you will be glad you came off it. Dopamine agonists like ropinirole and pramipexole are no longer the first line treatment for RLS. Gabapentin or pregabalin is. The beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin (75 mg pregabalin). Start it 3 weeks before you are off ropinirole although it won't be fully effective until you are off it for several weeks. After that increase it by 100 mg (25 mg pregabalin) 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. (You don't need to split the doses with pregabalin) Most of the side effects of gabapentin or pregabalin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. If you take magnesium take it at least 3 hours before or after taking gabapentin or pregabalin as it will interfere with the absorption of them. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin (200 to 300 mg pregabalin) daily." If you haven't had your ferritin checked, ask your doctor for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100 and your transferrin saturation to be between 20 and 45. If your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20 and 45 post back here and we can give you some advice. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it as yours obviously isn't or s/he would never have prescribed a dopamine agonist at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...
Hi, I'm at my wits end and suffering now, with augmentin I think from ropinerole, I was taking 0.25mg at around 5pm and at around 6pm I take 1mg. I am now over the last couple of days, having to take 0.25mg around 6am, again at lunchtime and 1mg around 6/7pm. Sadly last night woke around 3am and had to take 0.25 which didn't give any relief at all, I took another one within a couple of hours as couldn't stick it anymore. I was put on ropinirole straight after pramipexole. I have an appointment with my GP Monday so will either be offered the 24hr patch or to go back immediately on Pramipexole. I have seen a parkinsons/geriatric doctor and this is what he recommended, switching between all 3 when 1 stopped working. I am worried because I am flying to Jamaica in around 3 weeks 10/11 hour flight and I'm dreading it, to the point I'm getting very upset even thinking about it and wondering if I should lose all money and just cancel altogether. I have been waiting to go for over 50 years and it's becoming a nightmare before I've even boarded. I am going with my daughter and Granddaughter, my daughter has no patience whatsoever with me having to move my legs and it causes me huge upset. As you know doctors in UK use this medication and don't offer any others really.Thanks Debbie
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