Two months ago I finally found a doctor (addiction specialist) who read all the literature I gave him (from this site) and he was very understanding and prescribed me the suboxone film. I’m taking 1/7 of the film each day and it has enabled me to get to this point of no Pramipexole!
I kinda thought the Suboxone would help with depression but it obviously is not.
I also stopped taking Zoloft last fall in preparation of getting off the pramipexole. Maybe that was the wrong move but my thinking was to try and get rid of any triggers.
Since starting the Suboxone 2 months ago, the impulse control issues went away almost immediately. I quit drinking coffee all day, quit antihistamines, quit porn addiction, and realized I had been pretty horrible towards my wife for a few years.
I have this website to thank for getting this far and I guess I’m looking for some encouragement.
I talk to my psychiatrist Monday about possibly getting on gabapentin or Pregabalin. I sure don’t want to get on anything but also don’t want to be depressed.
I’ve also cut down on pot usage considerably. Honesty, I don’t even want to get high these days but am doing it enough to not feel more withdrawal symptoms,
I am so grateful for the time and thought the folks on this site put into their feedback and support. It gives me faith. And that is what I need right now: faith.
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If suboxone is controlling the RLS, stay on it and discuss safe meds to control depression. Vortioxetine has been quite successful for some & it helps RLS.The average effective dose of Buprenorphine is 1mg, so if you're on 1/7 of a 2mg strip, that's a really low dose and you can increase it slightly to cover the RLS 24/7 if it doesn't settle in a few weeks.
Thanks so much! I do get RLS still some but it is very minor, reminiscent of the RLS I had before I started taking lexapro almost 20 years ago. It reminds me of when I thought putting a bar of soap under my mattress was really helping.
I’m hesitant to up my dose of Suboxone because I’ve read on this forum that it can cause depression.
It can for some. For me, it caused panic attacks and anxiety ( I reacted the same to Oxy) but a few weeks on very low dose pregabalin stopped it completely. I still take 25mg pregabalin at night as it has a sedating effect & counters the Buprenorphine anxiety.I agree you should stay on the lowest effective dose, and it still early days. Your dopamine receptors will take weeks/months to settle and recover from the Pramipexole.
I’m trying to figure out if my panic attacks are from the Suboxone or from totally quitting pramipexole. I find relief from the panic when I take the Suboxone . But maybe it is causing it to begin with.
Possibly. Perhaps wait 7 to 10 days and if the panic continues, try a small dose of pregabalin ( 25 or 50mg) to see if it helps.Dr Buchfuhrer replied to my emails about panic attacks on opioids ( I'd never experienced them before) and he recommended adding a small dose of pregabalin. It is sedating and helps with sleep as well.
It could very well be Buprenorphine. Pregabalin really, really settled them within one or two days. Worth a try at low dose, especially as pregabalin treats RLS as well.
Why not just stay on the Suboxone. For depression Wellbutrin and Trazodone are the only 2 safe for RLS so you could try those.
If you still have depression and want to try gabapentin or pregabalin: the beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin (75 mg pregabalin). Pregabalin is more expensive than gabapentin in the US. It will take 3 weeks before it is fully effective. After that increase it by 100 mg (25 mg pregabalin) every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you.
Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime as the peak plasma level is 2 hours. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. (You don't need to split the doses with pregabalin)
Most of the side effects will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin (200 to 300 mg pregabalin)."
If you take magnesium even in a multivitamin, don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin (it is OK with pregabalin) as it will interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and don't take calcium within 2 hours for the same reason (not sure about pregabalin). Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...
Have you had your ferritin checked? If so what was it? If not this is the first thing that should be done for RLS.
When you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including in a multivitamin 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible.
When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100 as improving it to that helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their RLS and you want your transferrin saturation to be between 20% and 45%. If your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20% and 45% post back here and we can give you some advice.
Some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, carbs, foods high in sodium(salt), foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, oestrogen (estrogen) including HRT, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise.
Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, CBD, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, C, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, vibration devices like therapulse, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga. Keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse.
Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute.
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coming off Pramipexole and Ropinorole 
Weaning off high dose Pramipexole 
Hell: Weaning off pramipexole 
