Augmentation long term

[Graham3196]

) if I had RLS and augment on pramipexole but continued on a high dose of pramipexole what would happen to me. Could it be mistaken for dementia? What would you advise to rescue me?

[SueJohnson]

I assume this is a hypothetical question since I remember you controlled your RLS with diet.

If one augmented on pramipexole and continued on a high dose, one would suffer all the symptoms of augmentation and would eventually cave into taking a higher dose and eventually would augment on that too, etc. No it wouldn't be mistaken for dementia. Obviously to rescue someone in that circumstance they would need to wean off it.

[Tulette in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue I totally agree with your comment - that is exactly what augmentation results in until one reaches a point where the symptoms become out of control because the medicine makes the condition worse not better. Dementia is a totally different ball game. Pramipexole resulted in my suddenly falling asleep with no warning - this was in addition to the constant feeling of tiredness I experienced whilst taking it.

[Graham3196 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue Not really hypothetical but just trying to understand whats happening to someone else.

[SueJohnson in reply to Graham3196]

Ahh -that explains it.

[Henshaw241241]

Hi Graham I have suffered with R LS and I went to see a neurologist and it was the best thing I done she put me on pregabalin 75 m 1 tablet at 6 pm and 4 at 9pm the best thing ever happened no climbing the walls and having good night's sleep TAKE Care let me know how you get on Tony henshaw 41

[SueJohnson in reply to Henshaw241241]

Unless you have RLS before bed, there is no need to take pregabalin at 6 pm. You can take it all 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.

[Tulette in reply to SueJohnson]

Again Sue I have to agree with you. I am currently on pregabalin for my RLS. It doesn’t last all night so unless the symptoms kick in early evening there is no point taking it at 6pm

[SueJohnson in reply to Tulette]

You may need to increase it.

[Joolsg]

No you wouldn't. But, there is increasing evidence from the top experts, who deal with thousands of RLS patients a year, that these drugs cause permanent damage to dopamine receptors. Inevitably, augmentation will happen at some point and you would need to get off Pramipexole. There is the possibility of DAWS ( very depressed, down mood) & suicidal ideation after you withdraw.Dr Berkowski recently reported a case of someone with Anhedonia ( inability to experience pleasure in anything) caused by dopamine agonists. The patient committed suicide. That's an extreme, rare case, but shows why suicide is more common in RLS than in other neurological diseases.

It's why top US experts wrote the Mayo algorithm. They can see what is happening with dopamine agonists because they see far more RLS patients than their European counterparts.

[Graham3196 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you

[Merny5]

I was up to 9 mg of Nuepro when I augmented. I suffered severe DAWS and I now have permanent receptor damage. It’s been a couple of years now and I am a different person. I do not have symptoms similar to dementia but I suffer from depression and am easily agitated. The depression evidently can not be controlled with RLS friendly anti depressants. So the “rescue” would be to slowly reduce the pramipexole asap.

[Graham3196 in reply to Merny5]

Thanks Very sorry to hear that you have had such a problem. I hope things improve in the long term