Dear friends:
I recently read a post by someone who had a resolution of RLS after medically supervised use of psilocybin. After taking Mirapex, Gabapentin, OxyContin, Methadone, and Horizant, I am desperate for alternatives.
The poster lives in CA as do I. I am unable to locate the post via searching and am hopeful that person can reappear for additional conversation. Thank you
I have personally known people to get something similar to RLS after using hallucinogens.
healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...
As long as you don’t have an iron overload disorder, I recommend trying 50mg of Ferrous Bisglycinate on an empty stomach about two hours before bed. If you’re like me, your RLS will be gone within 90 minutes for one night. If it works, then must be taken every night. If not, then no harm, no foul.
Hi Justvisiting, I too have been researching this as a treatment for RLS and depression. I have contacted a few places and most are in the process of developing a program or just in the study phase. I have become a little discouraged with my quest for a treatment center near me. If I need to travel, I will but I was hoping for a location near me in Michigan. However, I do know that there are places in Oregon, California and I believe Colorado. Oregon is the pioneer for such a treatment. Please let me know if you find a location and if you go that route, PLEASE share.
I promise!
Hello. I live in CA and replied to post from someone who was suffering extreme depression after coming off of a DA. When I came off of Ropinirole I suffered debilitating depression. Begging my loved ones to give me permission to end my life. I tried Wellbutrin, but couldn't tolerate it. Also tried Trazodone, didn't help at all. Would have taken an SSRI, but was not willing to aggravate my RLS. Did a round of rTMS, no change. So, I began my journey with Psilocybin. I have been micro dosing for over a year now, working to achieve my optimum dose. It works wonders on my depression but I can't say that it helps my RLS. In fact if I have too much in my system, RLS can get worse. That's why finding the correct dose is so important. From what I know there are two ways to approach psilocybin. It is used with a "tripping dose" (about 3.5 grams) to aid in therapy. This form of supervised therapy is only legal in Oregon I believe, mostly to treat traumatic experiences. The other is micro dosing. I take about .05 grams twice a week. I don't experience any psyco active effects at all. It is said that it rewires the brain. And after 16 years on an obscenely high dose of Ropinirole my brain definitely needed rewiring. A doctor actually recommended that I do this, but said he couldn't prescribe it because it was illegal. I was able to get some from a friend. I read about micro dosing and began my journey. Most important thing for me was to listen to my body and trust it to guide me.
Thank you for sharing- very much appreciated
Hi Birdland,
So you are saying it is illegal in Ca? I thought I read somewhere that it was legal. I’m glad it is working for you. My story is very similar to yours. DA dosage way too high for many years caused serious depression. Good luck to you
Yes, I believe it is still illegal in CA. My GP says that will probably change soon. But I don't have the time to wait! Those DA's sure can cause serious depression!! A deep sorrow deep in your soul. I think our brains get so used to the drug creating dopamine that it forgets how to create it on it's own. Hope you are finding your way through your depression. Have you ever tried the OTC supplement lion's mane mushroom? It really helped my depression and also RLS got better. I had to stop though because it was giving me anxiety and insomnia. Bummer! Might be worth a try. Not expensive.
I will share my own recent experience which I can't generalize to others. I have refractory RLS and associated severe depression and SI. After reading all about the remarkable antidepressant effects of psilocybin I wanted to try it. I was unable get into any research programs so I did my own unsupervised treatment with 2.5 grams of dried mushrooms. I had had wonderful mushroom trips during college so expected something nice, and possibly life-changing. Unfortunately, as I later learned, psilocybin exerts it's antidepressant effect via a surge of serotonin, which as we all know exacerbates RLS. So I spent several very uncomfortable hours restless, twitching and unable to relax. Very disappointing. But maybe the microdosing could still be effective for my depression without exacerbating my RLS. As far as a treatment for RLS, pharmacologically psilocybin doesn't sound promising, but I definitely don't want to discourage anyone from trying, and the OP cited an example of someone who got relief of RLS with it, which is great. One thing we know is that we all respond differently to drugs. So it's just experiment, experiment, experiment.
Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully. And, you are so correct- who knows what strategy will be helpful for any one of us affected by this awful condition.
I have had friends try this - the lowest dose one - interesting effect, not wild at all. No idea as therapy for RLS - might be worth a try!
I am in treatment with psychedelics therapy for childhood complex PTSD And it had no effect, good or bad, on my restless leg syndrome, which I’ve had for 14 years. Although I’m fairly certain that that old trauma is the root cause of my restless leg syndrome. I tapered off ropinirole finally back in February and I’m now on low-dose oxycodone, which works really well. The only drawback of oxycodone is you can’t take any sleep aids that are sedatives as there’s a risk of having breathing problems while sleeping.
Try taking your psilocybin early morning, preferably before eating. This appears to optimize bioavailability, shorten the period where you may experience increased anxiety and stimulation , and you’ll be much more likely to find yourself in the “after-glow” phase by bedtime 😊
There is existing and growing scientific evidence of real physiological changes that psilocybin and related substances can facilitate to your brain and nervous system. The first I read was a research study on Ayahuasca where the scientists studied a group of South Americans who regularly consumed that substance as it was part of their religion. So they had a large, diverse population to study as well as matched controls. Cadavers within both groups had significant differences in their brains which the researchers matched to their findings of significant differences in the personalities between the groups.
One finding was that the group who used had significantly more “openness” , which is a personality trait amongst the “big five traits” that had formerly been considered “hardwired” and not seen to change significantly in people.
Please use with care, caution, and with as much support and involvement with your healthcare team as the law allows.
In psychotherapy, these substances can help you “get your ego out of the way” as my physiatrist explained. That effect appears to last days beyond dosing, so while many of us are located too far from legally sanctioned hallucinogenic therapy services, we may prime ourselves for therapy sessions the day before so that we can obtain some of the benefits without risking our dear therapist’s license 👍👍
50 Y/O with years of RLS experience
Something That Gave True Relief
Naltrexone LDN and Tramadol
I am a little lost in my tapering regime
