Gabapentin

[Moretravel1]

when I get off pramipexole using Gabapentin do i then reduce the Gabapentin until I’m off or just lower the dose and stay on Gabapentin

[SueJohnson]

You don't want to lower the dose, you want to increase it. It is the first line treatment for RLS after raising your ferritin. Ask for 100 mg capsules. After you are off pramipexole and your symptoms have settled increase it by 100 mg every couple of days. until you find the dose that controls your symptoms. Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime as the peak plasma level is 2 hours. Since you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. Most of the side effects of gabapentin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin ." If you take magnesium even in a multivitamin, don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and don't take calcium within 2 hours for the same reason. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

You never answered the question on whether you had your ferritin checked. That is especially important when you are augmenting as improving it will help with your augmentation symptoms.

[Joolsg]

Your RLS will still be there after you get off Pramipexole. A few people manage to be med free after an iron infusion.As you will likely still have RLS, you will need medication. As SueJohnson advises, you will need to increase the gabapentin to control your ongoing RLS.

[Moretravel1 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you. I am in touch with Sue. I’m at 900 mg of Gabapentin right now and it has worked for 1 night. I’m also down to .2mg of pramipexole. I’m getting close and will probably cut back to 1mg for 2 weeks and try to close. I may have to get to 1200 mg of Gabapentin and maybe that will take care of my RLS. At least that’s my plan. I got back my blood test today and my ferritin count was 127.

[SueJohnson in reply to Moretravel1]

Be aware it is harder the closer you get to getting off. The normal amount to reduce by is half of a .125 tablet.

[Moretravel1 in reply to SueJohnson]

I hear you and that’s what I plan to do. I’ve got some .1 mg. Thank you for your help

[Jukebox55]

What do you want to know? Everything i learnt i learnt from this wise and knowledgeable community. I took six months to gradually come off prami… snd took oral iron therapy. However, despite the RLS virtually gone, i am now dealing with my insomnia. I am now following aCBTi course, provided by the Insomnia Clinic in London. Read as much as you can about DAs on this site. Good luck.