Hypothetical question re Pramipexole

[Graham3196]

Just hypothetically.

if I had no symptoms of RLS at age 50 what is the probability of my developing the disease at age 60 or 70?

If at age 50 with no symptoms I started to take a regular dose of pramipexole for some other reason what is the probability having a reaction that would appear to fit the description of symptoms of Augmentation when I reach age 60 or 70

The reason for asking is that a Parkinson's patient might develop RLS after they are diagnosed with Parkinson's. The RLS symptoms might be mistaken for Parkinson's symptoms and the high dose of pramipexole might result in augmentation and symptoms that would look like serious Parkinsons symptoms. This might result in an increase in dose of the pramipexole and hence augmentation that might easily be misdiagnosed. I am under the impression that there is no test that can reveal augmentation in a living person.

[SueJohnson]

I did not develop RLS until I was in my 70's and had no symptoms before that. Don't know the probability.

To your second question if a person took pramipexole for unipolar or bipolar depression and developed RLS then they obviously could suffer augmentation. In researching it I found no references to developing augmentation if the person did not have underlying RLS.

Your 3rd scenario is certainly possible.

[Graham3196 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue its very good for me to have someone I can count on to ask such questions.

[Joolsg]

Interesting. Have a look at posts by Ephemera. Her husband did not have RLS before being put on Pramipexole. He was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and put on a really high dose. He was then told he didn't have PD and was taken off Pramipexole.He suffered horrendous withdrawal with constant, severe RLS.

He probably had underlying mild RLS which was made severe by the Pramipexole.

He now has permanent, severe refractory RLS.

So I think dopamine agonists can trigger severe RLS in patients who previously had minimal, mild RLS which hadn't 'developed'.

I also know of a few patients with RLS who are then diagnosed with PD.

As 30% of PD patients also have RLS, it's an interesting question.

I always wonder how PD patients cope when they have to decide which is worse. PD symptoms or augmentation symptoms on high doses of Dopamine agonists.

[SueJohnson in reply to Joolsg]

Luckily there are other medicines they can take instead of DAs although they may or may not work as well.

[Graham3196 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you for your help.

[Grammieof4]

i got RLS at age 63.