ropinirole for travel?

[MountainWanderer]

Until last July I had been taking 1mg of ropinirole 3 x daily. Since then I have successfully weaned myself off 2 mg during the day and only take 1 mg at night. Three months ago I began seeing a specialist and she has me on 75 mg 3x a day.

My question:

I am taking a trip to Europe in May and am worried about the long flights. Hydrocodone did absolutely nothing for me on a recent shorter flight. The only relief I got was my evening 1 mg of ropinirole.

Isit ok to take more ropinirole for the flight or will that make weaning off it again worse?I would so appreciate your thoughts.

[SueJohnson]

Congratulations for reducing it this far. Yes it is OK if you only take it for the flight. It shouldn't affect your weaning.

Once you have no symptoms during the day, just take all your pregabalin at night.

[MountainWanderer in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue, I’m not sure I made a couple of things clear in my post. Yes, the drug the specialist has prescribed is pregabalin. Also, I’m asking if going back up to 2 doses of 1 mg ropinirole would be ok for the flight. Just want to make sure this is clear. Thank you so much.

[SueJohnson in reply to MountainWanderer]

Yes taking 2 doses just for the flight is fine, although if you have .25 pills just adding that should do it. If not you might want to cut one of the 1 mg ones in half so you are only taking 1.5.

[MountainWanderer in reply to SueJohnson]

That’s a great idea. Thank you!

[RLSofManyYears]

I have a small store of Pramipexole left after coming off it. Last November I was flying to the south of France and so took a half tablet for the flight, and the return, and it went well. My worst situation with RLS is sitting in an aircraft seat. My legs just jerk and coupled with the fact that I don't want to disturb the person sitting next to me it just becomes a very, very difficult time. The other option, which I've used, is to head to the back of the aircraft asap and just stand around there. Pramipexole is faster acting that Ropinirole but I'm not advocating that for you. Do as Sue suggests and enjoy your holiday.

[MountainWanderer in reply to RLSofManyYears]

Thank you. I, too, have had that experience. Last time I flew I stood in the aisle for an hour. Awkward.

[MountainWanderer]

That’s really interesting! No, Italy. I had read some countries have restrictions about some drugs but have seen nothing specific. Thanks!

[Meagain22]

I have found I do need to increase my dosage of ropinirole on long flights, due to longer periods of inactivity, I think. (And no, marching up and diwn the aisles is not enough exercise, IME. )

Just one extra half mg tab seems to help. And no, it doesn’t seem to affect my dosage needs thereafter, but everyone is different.

[MountainWanderer in reply to Meagain22]

Thank you. That confirms other advice I’ve been given and seems like a very good plan.

[Merny5]

It should be banned everywhere!

[Marzipana]

I'm not sure I understand the dose of ropinerole you take. You went down from 1mg 3× daily to 1mg once a day? But now the specialist has you on 75mg 3× daily? That seems like a huge increase!I was on hydrocodone last year when I broke my wrist and had surgery. I took it at night, and it did nothing fir my RLS. Ditto for acupuncture and CBD/THC.

I started taking one 0.5mg ropinerole one night a week after I had weaned off it for 3 months. I was so desperate for a near-solid night of sleep that I caved in. So far, I haven't had any repercussions, but ropinerole will always make me nervous after years of augmentation wreaking havok with my RLS symptoms!

I haven't traveled further than 5 hours by car in the last 27 years, as it was miserable being on a plane to Ireland back then. Now, between my RLS and my husband's prostate issues, it's like a Saturday Night Live parody on a family trip in the car. I'm blessed that I can sometimes see humor in a rough situation. I hope the ropinerole keeps your legs calm on the long flight in May!!

[MountainWanderer in reply to Marzipana]

Haha I can relate to your parody on a family car trip! Us, too. I was not clear in my post about the meds. The 75 mg 3x daily was pregabalin, not the ropinirole. Thank you for your reply!