Another Withdrawing from Dopamine Agonist Question

[RiversW]

Hello Everyone, It may seem over the top, but every time I post here, I feel the need to verbally genuflect to show my respect and thanks to those who are the foundation of this site. Thank you.

First, the good news for me is that I have not put a Neupro patch on in 5 days! My second attempt to put a DA behind me has been much more successful than the first. Largely due to a 20mg Buprenorphine patch I suspect. My first try was cold turkey. After 4 days of no sleep, I gave up when I started falling asleep while I was walking. This second attempt has been much different. I am at day 4 without the Neupro patch and RLS symptoms have made for a bumpy ride, but so far nothing I could not tolerate. I am not getting more than 3 hours of solid sleep a night and when I wake I am often in a bit of discomfort. Classic RLS symptoms like jerky, jumpy legs, moderate to severe ache in both thighs and burning often over my entire body. These symptoms are not dissimilar to the symptoms I have had for the last 5 years when I believe I was going through augmentation. One difference is that now I am not experiencing discomfort during the day. That is a step forward.

I am curious to know if anyone can give me an idea of when things might calm down a bit. I know this is an impossible question to answer, we are all different in the RLS world, but I would appreciate a best shot or at least parameters. Judging by the somewhat soft landing I have seen so far, I expect another few weeks, maybe more, of what I am going through now.

Thanks to this community, I am more hopeful than I have been in a long time.

Rivers

[RiversW]

Update.

After all of the positive comments wrote yesterday, last night, the 5th without the Neupro patch was pretty awful. Every time I fell asleep a pain would attack both thighs waking me and sending me walking until the attack subsided. The episodes lasted about 45 minutes to an hour, sometimes a little longer. I am on the seventh day of my Buprenorphine. Is it possible that the patch gave out after 6 days. Also, I place the patch on my upper thigh. The manufactures suggest left or right upper chest or back, but I have always placed my patches on my thighs without an issue. Also, I tape over the patch to make sure it does not fall off. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks Rivers

[Purpleyam]

Congrats on getting through 7 days now without a DA! Your symptoms sound exactly like I had while in withdrawal from Pramipexole. It will dissipate within another week very likely. It feels good to see the daytime improvement of no RLS until the dreaded nights, right?. Also good that you have the support of an opioid to get you through this phase. You should be able to start on either Gabapentin or Pregabalin in another week. Those take about 3 weeks to fully be effective.

[RiversW in reply to Purpleyam]

Thank you Purpleyam, I appreciate your input. Rivers

[Birdland]

I don’t use the Buprenorphine patch but I’ve read many comments here about how the patch wears off sooner than it is supposed to.