Pramipexole withdrawal or...?

[SleeplessInNS]

After a year long break from 10 years on .25mg pramipexole (stopped because of augmentation), I started taking .25mg pramipexole again to help me get through until an upcoming appointment with a neurologist. I was on .25mg pramipexole for a total of 17 days. After my appointment I reduced the pramipexole to .125mg for 5 days while starting on 75mg of Lyrica, then stopped the pramipexole completely. My RLS was under control for this period.

After 5 days of 75mg of Lyrica, I increased it to 150mg which I have been taking for the past 4 days.

Since stopping the pramipexole completely (and continuing the 150mg of Lyrica), my RLS is back with a vengeance. Do you think this is pramipexole withdrawal after such a short, low dose period, or that the Lyrica is not (yet?) helping with my RLS? I don't want to keep increasing the Lyrica dose if I'm actually having pramipexole withdrawal symptoms.

Thanks

[SueJohnson]

It takes 3 weeks for lyrica to be fully effective and that is after any withdrawal symptoms have settled. And then it should be increased by only 25 mg every 2 days until you find the dose that works for you.. Even though you didn't suffer from augmentation while being on it for only 17 days, it is still advised to come off it slowly, so yes it could still be from withdrawal or because not enough time has gone by on lyrica or both.

[SueJohnson]

You mentioned a month ago that you had your iron tested. What was your ferritin which is the most important thing for RLS?

[SleeplessInNS in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks for the reply - ferritin was 105

[tarrynws]

what did you take for the year you were off pramipexole?

[SleeplessInNS in reply to tarrynws]

I was on gabapentin (1800mg) , which worked ok (not as well as pramipexole) and then stopped being effective.

[sigurdur]

I started taking pramipexole again after 10 months off. It only took me a few days to augment again and now after 2 months off I am still dealing with withdrawals. I hate this drug so much. I curse the day I started using it.

[SleeplessInNS in reply to sigurdur]

Wow - sorry to hear that! Amazing that it could have that effect so quickly.