Co-codamol any good for RLS or PLMD?

[pianoplayerPLMD]

I asked my GP for buprenorphine. He gave me co-codamol. Does anyone have any personal experience of this opioid? I'm not in pain, but have PLMD. I'd love to know if anyone has used co-codamol - and how they took it - and what their experience of it has been.

[Shaunygee]

Hi, I've been taking Zapain (30mg Codeine, 500mg Paracetamol) for a long time. I used to take 2 at 7pm and another 2 at bedtime (along with Ropinirole). I'm fairly sure it made a difference to start with but the efficacy slowly wore out and now I seem to be able to tolerate it much more. I started to get a little bit worried about taking that much Codeine so I now only take it occasionally when my RLS is really bad (sometimes take 2 in the early hours). I've also had twitching and jerking (PLMD?) for the last couple of years (steadily getting more severe) and I don't think the Codeine helps with that at all. As a side note, I'm coming off Ropinirole and moving to Gabapentin under direction from a neurologist as I believe I'm augmenting on the Ropinirole.

[pianoplayerPLMD in reply to Shaunygee]

Thank you for your reply: I am advised to take 4 tablets daily, but not what time to take them, so I think I'll try what you did with the Zapain. I've been on Gabapentin for several months, and have decided to come off it, as i was on 2400mg and am having very mixed experience, some nights with no leg jerks, and some nights with a lot. I am hoping the opioids will make the difference you describe, but like you I'm nervous about taking a lot of it.

[Elisse3 in reply to pianoplayerPLMD]

I first started off taking cocodamol otc til my doctor prescribed them. If you have any idea what time your RLS usually starts ? then take the first dose before it starts if you can then 4 hrs later. I also took them in the afternoon if my RLS had twinges of starting. Or in the night as long as it’s 4 hrs apart. After awhile they stopped working so then went on to codeine phosphate Dont worry about taking opiates you get dependent on them not not addicted. Unless you have been an addict (i am sure you have not) Go by how many your doctor has told you to take

[pianoplayerPLMD in reply to Elisse3]

that's really helpful, thanks so much..

[macewan13]

Hello there,

I took Cocodamol for several years along with the Neupro patch. The combination worked for a while but the Cocodamol was never enough by itself.

I am now on Gabapentin and Buprenorphine. For the first time in years, I can mostly sleep through the night. It’s been a month now. I have had a couple of nights when my RLS has started up again in the middle of the night. In that case, I take Cocodamol. This works.

To sum up, for me the Cocodamol has never been sufficient but works as a backup for other medication.

I hope this helps.

[pianoplayerPLMD in reply to macewan13]

that's really helpful: thanks so much. I'm just wondering how long does it take for the cocodamol to take effect when you have RLS in the middle of the night?

[macewan13 in reply to pianoplayerPLMD]

I take the effervescent kind. (2 tablets, each of 500mg Paracetamol and 30mg Codeine). This works more quickly than the non effervescent tablets - 10 minutes as against 20.

[Boldgirl45]

Did your memory return once you came off co-codemol? Thanks !

[pianoplayerPLMD]

thanks for this info: I will definitely take it for a short time only as an experiment, and be aware of the things you experienced.

[milly-22]

Yes my Doctor put me on cocodamol to help me with coming off Ropinirole. It helped a little in that it made me sleepy which did help me snatch a couple of hours sleep but that was all. I would say that anyone who is taking Ropinirole or any other medication for RLS that causes augmentation do stick at coming off that medication. Whilst coming off Ropinirole I had RLS all day and had to be constantly walking and pacing around or doing some work on my feet and as I've said above I was getting a disturbed 2 hours sleep a night. It was purgatory. But I have been off the dreadful drug for about 3 months now and it is so wonderful to be able to put my feet up in the afternoon and read a book or have a snooze, and to lie on the sofa at night and watch TV or read and then at night time to get some decent sleep. I do wake in the night and have a little feeling of restless legs so added to the 3 pills of Pregabalin I take an hour before bedtime I take 2 cocodamol in the middle of the night.

[pianoplayerPLMD in reply to milly-22]

that's helpful to know that cocodamol helps you through the night. I will try it.

[Boldgirl45]

OK thank you - interesting.

[Shir_11]

I have been on Buprenophine for 3 years now after trying everything else for 40 years and it has worked for me. I can’t see why you would have to take anything but the Buprenophine for relief. Maybe you should try the Buprenophine on its own and see how it goes. Best wishes.

[pianoplayerPLMD in reply to Shir_11]

Thank you for your reply: yes I would have preferred to be given Buprenorphine. Could you tell me how much you take a day and when, and in what quantities? It would really help next time I see the GP. thank you!

[Shir_11 in reply to pianoplayerPLMD]

I was given the Norspan 5mg patch which is slow release for 7 days. I worked straight away and I was so happy. The only problem I had was that the patch made me itchy and left a red burn like mark on my arm. The doctor then stopped the Norspan patch and put me on Temgesic 5mc which is a sublingual table which I break in half and take half around 4pm when I feel I am getting a little restless and the other half at around 9pm. I have no augmentation during the day. My life was miserable before this. Good luck.