Gabapentin Schedule

[Lineker]

Good afternoon everyone. After coming off Pramipexole, I have moved onto Gabapentin with mixed results. I am certainly getting more sleep, but it tends to be in two hour blocks. I think the problem maybe that I haven't sorted out a proper time schedule. Let me explain.

At night I tend to be woken by RLS just in the quads. During the day I suffer from a dull ache in the quads which is really distracting. It's like a muscle weakness, but there isn't the same restlessness that I get at night. I think I have added to the problem by taking a Gabapentin tablet during the day to dull the ache. As a result there is no regular pattern and I am fire-fighting.

I am now thinking of a different approach as follows: one x 300mg at 8.00 am / one x 300 at 2.00pm/ and two x 300 at 9.00. This way I figure the Gabapentin will be in my system and I shouldn't have the same ups and downs.

As usual any advice from the wonderful people on this site would be much appreciated. Thanks again.

[SueJohnson]

That will probably help but I doubt it will control your RLS at night.

[Lineker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks for the prompt reply Sue. Are you hinting that I should take a larger dose in the evening? I am loath to take more than I might need.

[SueJohnson in reply to Lineker]

You said you were getting woken up in the night and only sleeping in 2 hour shifts. I sleep through the night with gabapentin. And 600 mg at night is a very low dose.

[Lineker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. Can I ask you what you think is a reasonable amount to take at 9.00pm given that 600 mg is not quite working?

[SueJohnson in reply to Lineker]

Try 300 at 7:00. Let me know how it goes.

[Strike26 in reply to SueJohnson]

hi Sue- just a brief note to say thank you. I argued at the time (last year) that Ropinirole was okay and it did work a bit for me. And then, as predicted, it didn’t and augmentation set in. As you will see above 1200mg Gabapentin is not just doing the job, it is near to a miracle for me (and once I sort the stenosis with an operation I have a life back!!!). I certainly won’t be arguing with you again!!! Alex

[SueJohnson in reply to Strike26]

I'm glad it is working. That's what matters.

[Strike26]

hi - I have just moved to almost exactly what you describe, except I am on 400mg at each of those times. And , apart from the odd short “episode” (most of which, there is an obvious cause- sitting on a hard surface for example), RLS is suppressed most of the time. Unfortunately, I also have a diagnosed back problem (spinal stenosis), so my sleep time is very poor (3 hours most nights) but virtually no rls for the first time in years is such a relief. Best of lut. Alex

[Lineker in reply to Strike26]

So glad to hear the RLS is under control. Top news.

[67Waterman]

I went through the same as you ... and in the end concluded that no matter what routine of taking Gabapentin I followed, it just did not work. I then went on to Pregabalin (450mg in one dose per night), and am finding that it also does not work. I tend to wake up after about three hours with RLS again. I will be having a call with my specialist in September and want to suggest going on to Buprenorphine. Hopefully that WILL work.

[Lineker in reply to 67Waterman]

I hope you find the drug that works for you. Keep on keeping on as they say.

[Tom919]

I take 2 x 300 gabapentin before bedtime. But I have to include a good stretching regimen. I power walk at the gym for 2-3 miles, but again, this has to include stretching.

[Lineker in reply to Tom919]

Thanks Tom for getting in touch. The stretching has to be important.

[CookiePooki]

Get with your doctor. That may be the help you.

[Jetto]

Horizant works better for most. Also many like Lycra or Neupro patch

You don't want to use evil Methadone unless nothing else works

go to RLS.org. Jetto