Help with Gabapentin please

[Cobobay]

Hello, I'm wandering if I need to up my ropinerole again during the day? I until the last few days have been coping, taking 1mg ropinerole at 6pm and 2 gabapentin at around 8pm before I go to bed sometimes a bit later depending what time I get home, no later than 10pm tho. The problem is last few days my legs have been going crazy again around 2pm so last 2 days have taken my 6pm x 1mg around 5pm instead, yesterday had to take at 4pm as couldn't take it anymore. Last night was the end of 2nd week of starting Gabapentin again so took 3 x 100mg, thought maybe better today, but no, my legs got bad around lunchtime, I've tried to keep moving, as I don't know wherether to start taking gabapentin earlier or not, or start taking extra ropinerole at around 2pm again. I have been taking tramadol, which I am trying to cut down due to another matter, would it be because of that maybe? I don't know what to do and after how I was spoken to and treated otherday day, by a doctor up hospital, I don't want to ask for help. Thank you Debbie

[SueJohnson]

Cutting down the tramadol might be the problem. Go back up on it and that will tell you if it is.

[Cobobay in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you Sue as always, I took your advice at last and started Gabapentin and touch wood, have had no problems with it till now and was going to cut down by 0.25 once I started my 3rd week, which is today, should I hold off with doing this, whilst my legs are getting worse carrying on with 1mg rop, or start now with 0.75 whilst increasing the tramadol again? Huge thanks D

[SueJohnson in reply to Cobobay]

Yes I would delay reducing the ropinirole because it will only confuse the picture as to whether reducing the tramadol caused the problem.

[Joolsg]

Sadly, withdrawal from Ropinirole will cause non stop, severe RLS at many stages.Reducing tramadol causes opioid withdrawal symptoms and the main one is severe RLS. So delay reducing tramadol until you are completely off Ropinirole.

Deal with Ropinirole first.

Tramadol is the only opioid that also causes augmentation, so it may be better to consider a switch to codeine or oxycodone.

What dose of tramadol are you on,and for how long?

[Cobobay in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Joel's, I'm on l100mg 4 times a day,, he gave me 56 of these, I have 23 left as I've been trying to cut them down, this is from the Doctor that thought it was hilarious tablets effected RLS, plus naproxen 1x3 times a day 100mg these are running out now tho, I was at first given dyahidracodiene, which he took me off of, should I swap to these again maybe?Im so upset with the A&E doctor for.giving me them after i yold him i had to be careful what tablets yo take, he took no notice whatsoever. Many thanks for your advice also

[Joolsg in reply to Cobobay]

Tramadol 400mg a day is a dose for pain relief. Your RLS will get worse as you reduce them. Arrange another appointment with your GP (or another one in the surgery) and explain that opioid withdrawal triggers worsening RLS. Ask for a tapered schedule over at least 3 months. Explain that you cannot go through 2 serious drug withdrawals at the same time.

After you stop tramadol, you will have a 4 to 6 week period of bad RLS . My sister recently broke her femur and when she stopped Oxycontin, she had 4 weeks of bad RLS every night. It did then stop.

So, either delay the Ropinirole withdrawal until you've been through tramadol withdrawal, or vice versa.

I'm so sorry you are having to navigate this with a GP who clearly doesn't understand the severity of RLS.

[Cobobay in reply to Joolsg]

Hi, I've only been on them a week do I still have to do this, or can I just switch to dyhydrcodiene as that's what I was on before that, I've started taking them today again to see if I get the same problem or whether switching will help. I don't know what to do for the vest I just can't get any answers from anyone here.

[Joolsg in reply to Cobobay]

So you've only been taking 400mg tramadol for a week?If so, yes you could go back to dyhydrocodeine. But ensure your GP is on board because you will need the GP to continue the prescription.

[DogBella]

Try not to increase Ropinirole. Coming off of it caused me to almost end my life with constant severe pain. It took a year to get off it. Now I am doing much better with Gabapentin and Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) and sleeping pain-free for usually 6 hours plus. Also an afternoon nap. I do get nausea feelings and lack of appetite which for me is okay as I needed to lose weight. I feel I have a life again. Don't lose hope.

[Nikos64]

I am concerned about the large dose of Tramadol you tried. Also, imho ropinirole is an awful medication. Both Tramadol and ropinirole cause augmentation (worsening) of RLS. Tramadol also is dangerous at high doses because it messes with your serotonin and could cause seizures.

I’ve experienced withdrawal from both Tramadol and ropinirole and it was the worst time of my life and I was 57 when I went thru it. My taper was aggressive and i wish i worked closer with a sleep specialist rather than my GP My journey in treating my RLS taught me to not work with a GP and work with either a pulmonologist or a sleep specialist

Hang in there partner. You will eventually find relief. Best wishes !

[Cobobay in reply to Nikos64]

Thank you so much for this I honestly do think know what I would do without you all, huge thanks x