Goodbye Sifrol

[Retiredlady]

I have been only taking half of .125mg sifrol for the last 4 weeks so tonight plan not to take any…..finally!….I have found that codeine was helping less and less as I slowly reduced my sifrol dose( originally .250mg for 10 years.)60mg of codeine/paracetamol now only gives me 2-3 hours relief which meant I needed another 60 mg in the middle of the night which sometimes only helped for an hour or two!My sleep specialist is very understanding and prescribed Targin(10/5mg) but warned me not to take any codeine the nights I chose to take Targin…..I have taken Targin the last 2 nights….MIRACULOUS..wonderful sleep , no breakthrough RLS symptoms!!Just wondering how long I will need to take Targin as I am very worried about addiction to it.Am I on the right path here???

[Madlegs1]

Targin is basically Oxycontin with Naloxone added.

It is very effective at relieving RLS.

You are so lucky in being able to get it prescribed.

It is used by many people and there is no fear of getting addicted with the low dose you are on.

I have been on a similar regime for at least 7 years without any major issues.

It won't stop any triggers from attacking you, so you will still have to be careful with your diet.

Good luck. And buy your sleep specialist a big boxachokkies.🤩

[Retiredlady in reply to Madlegs1]

What low dose opioid have u been on for 7 years please?

Had my FINAL sifrol dose last night.It’s 9pm here in Melbourne …..my body is demanding to know where it’s sifrol fix is!!!I will take the Targin at 10pm to hopefully keep me symptom free overnight.

[Joolsg in reply to Retiredlady]

Withdrawal can last weeks after the last dose and Targinact doesn't always cover all the Withdrawal symptoms.But be strong, don't go back on sifrol and wait at least 2 weeks before increasing Targinact.

Targinact is taken every 12 hours, so twice a day.

Addiction to opioids is not common in RLS patients because most do not experience a 'high' and do not 'crave' their next hit. Also tolerance does not seem to happen in the same way as it does in pain relief. Tolerance is where you have to increase the dose to achieve the same level of cover.

You will be dependent on your Targinact, but all RLS patients are dependent on their meds. If we stop taking them, we will experience withdrawal symptoms and our RLS will come back.

So, stick with the withdrawal. It will worsen for the 2 weeks after the last dose of Sifrol. But it WILL settle. In.a month, the Targinact should fully help and you should then have little daytime RLS and you should be able to sleep better.

[Retiredlady in reply to Joolsg]

I was hoping that because I was down to such a small dose of sifrol( .065mg) and I took 12 months to get there that my withdrawal symptoms would not be so bad!Fingers crossed for tonight….will post again in the morning.

[Joolsg in reply to Retiredlady]

Hopefully it will not be difficult. I know of 3 or 4 who didn't have severe withdrawal.Fingers crossed you are like them.

Good luck.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Retiredlady]

I've been on 25 mg of opioid.

30 would be regarded as a low dose of oxycodone.

I don't know the relative value to Buprenorphin.

[SueJohnson]

That's great that you are off sifrol and that the Targin works. And as the others have said there is no worry of addiction.

[Retiredlady in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue for your reassurance……I am not looking forward to the next month though!!

[CPDB-RLS]

I MAY have some good news in the near future as I have been prescribed MEDICAL CANNIBIS for my very painful neck which is too risky to operate on.

I think it may also be helping my RLS as I also want to cease Sifrol - it seemed I was becoming to need more of Sifrol and don't want that to happen again.

I think my RLS may not be as "powerful" as it was - I have been on the MEDICAL CANNIBIS now for 14 days and my neck is responding very well! I may be able to now have my serious abdominal operation and not have to fear I will have two lots of severe pain and RLS also.

I will keep you informed about the RLS results as a fantastic by-product, hopefully.

[ShadenJack]

That’s wonderful news! I feel the same with the Neurontin I’m currently taking.. adding a low dose of THC helps so I don’t have to reach for more of my RX. ‘Delta 8’ variety also helps- again, a low dose is usually enough. Only caveat is that I wonder if I’m trading one addictive substance for another? At this point, if it helps me sleep—-I don’t care!!!!

Continued luck to you!