Horizant

[pyramidhiker]

I am slowly discontinuing Ropinerole and have reviewed Winkleman’s medication recommendations. It appears that Horizant has the best overall profile of the gaba-related drugs. Can anyone please describe your experience with it? I am interested in RLS symptom reduction of course, but also on sleep quality and duration as well as lifestyle impact ( sedation effects, etc). Thank you.

[SueJohnson]

Horizant works for 24 hours so if you only have RLS at night after coming off ropinirole you are better off with gabapentin or pregabalin. Also it is very expensive. It is not usually covered by insurance although you can reduce the cost through their prescription savings card but even then it is much more expensive than the others. I pay $12 for a 90 day supply of gabapentin. Horizant with their prescription savings card would cost $165.

[pyramidhiker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. You’re are correct on cost and it would be $120 for 90 days through insurance. Is it deleterious to use Horizant if I only have symptoms at night? Would Lyrica be a better option? I am somewhat encouraged by the fewer number of drop-outs for side effects affects in studies of Horizant compared to Gabapentin and pregablin. What do you mean think?

[SueJohnson in reply to pyramidhiker]

It certainly won't be deleterious to use Horizant. Why don't you try gabapentin or pregabalin (Lyrica) first giving it at least a month to see if you have side effects you can't live with and if so then you could switch to Horizant to see if you don't have those side effects on it.

[Hotrodder in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue, what dose of Gabapentin do you take. I am coming off Ropinirole and will probably go with it. Thanks

Hotrodder

[SueJohnson in reply to Hotrodder]

I take 1500 mg.

[Rph5]

I’ve been on Horizant for about 1 year. The salt is different from the gabapentin (enacabril versus HCL) and it is specifically indicated for RLS. IT has worked for me. I take it around 5 pm. I usually go to sleep at 9-10. I also take a 300 gabapentin HCL around 7 or 8 pm.

Gabapentin HCL did not give me the same relief that Horizant did

I still don’t sleep well some nights but it’s not due to the creepy uncomfortable feeling of RLS.

Periodic limb movement may be the problem for me. Any thoughts on help for that.

[pyramidhiker in reply to Rph5]

Thank you for your experience with Horizant. May I ask why the 300 gabapentin in addition?

[Rph5 in reply to pyramidhiker]

Not sure why except I was hoping it would help better. I forgot to take it last night and legs did fine. Maybe I don’t need the extra so will not take it tonight.

[tagaxel]

I had to switch to Horizant after I experienced augmentation on pramipexole. It's doing a great job.

[pyramidhiker in reply to tagaxel]

Good to hear. I hope my results are as good.