Buprenorphine tablets and tiredness.

[dickJones]

I’ve been on Buprenorphine sublingual tablets at 0.6 mg for a little over 3 months. It’s difficult to trace exactly when it started, but within that time I’ve been experiencing increased fatigue. I can function fine when active - driving’s not a problem - but at leisure I’m dropping off whilst reading or watching the tele. Not an uncommon phenomenon, I know! But I wonder if others on Buprenorphine tablets have experienced similar tiredness.

[Joolsg]

Yes. Particularly after a meal as well. I think it is Buprenorphine. Daytime drowsiness is a common side effect. I know some people add 'alerting' meds like ritalin or modafanil in small doses to counteract the tiredness.

cancer.ca/en/treatments/sid...

It is so different from the hyper alertness caused by constant RLS. Very strange.

[dickJones in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks, Joolz. I don’t remember it being a side effect of the patches so it’ll be the pills. No such thing as a free lunch!

[SueJohnson]

If you take ritalin, take it in the morning so it has worn off by bedtime.

[dickJones in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks, Sue.

[Simkin]

Oh dear. Am about to switch from oxycontin (where I am dropping off to sleep all the time when sitting) to buprenorphine.I was hoping I would be livelier on buprenorphine but it sounds not!

I am just going to pay for my next lot of art lectures (slept through the last lot on oxycontin!) But it sounds as if it might be a waste of money!!!?????

[dickJones in reply to Simkin]

I can only testify to medication success so far. It could fold on me tonight! But in 3.5 months I haven’t experienced a single PLM so the game is definitely worth the candle.

[Simkin in reply to dickJones]

Excuse my ignorance Dick but is PLM the same as RLS? Simkin

[dickJones in reply to Simkin]

PLMD - periodic limb movement disorder - is a parallel condition arising from the same neurological source whereby within sleep or on waking from sleep the legs, one or both, go into involuntary spasm, the muscle contractions being accompanied by that same indescribable insects-under-the-skin sensation that accompanies RLS. It’s common but not invariable to have both conditions. The two disorders are responsive to the same medications. Hope that clarifies.

[Simkin in reply to dickJones]

Yes thanks.

[Fingerandus in reply to dickJones]

hi there mr D Jones i am begining to wonder about my RLS because mine are more like PLM i fall asleep or become drowsy even in the chair and my legs go into spasms whereby i have to stretch them as far as they will reach at the same time they jump on their own so as my body is straight out i do not and never have had a sensation of beetles ants crawling anythings in my legs just this very painful tightening of my muscles then relief when moved and stretched ive tried to explain to the doc but no one listens only one and he started me on pramipexole for 12 yrs now 2 trying to withdraw from them because when i take them my arms jump on their own too ...

[SueJohnson in reply to Fingerandus]

Those are symptoms of RLS. But most people with RLS have both. And they are treated the same way.

[rls-insomniac]

Yes. But as long as I'm active I'm fine. It's better for me if I'm sitting on the sofa watching TV or reading rather than lying down. If I'm lying down, I might nod off, but only for about 10/15 mins. But I'd rather this than suffer continuous RLS.

[dickJones in reply to rls-insomniac]

Absolutely! PLMs in my case, but a small price to pay!

[TeddiJ]

Yes! I definitely deal with that and it usually hits if I am sitting down about 8 hours after I awaken for the day. It is such an abrupt drop that I have even fallen asleep sitting up. If I am out running around, it seems to pass by.

Conversely, I don't have that same deep nap sleep when I take the Suboxone and go to bed for the night.