Ropinirole. Lovely Ropinirole.

Hello,

I have had RLS of steadily increasing worsity for over fifty years. For the last twenty I have been taking increasing doses of Ropinirole, and for the last ten have been on 4mg a day with great success except of course for never sitting still for long, never travelling far in a car, NEVER going on an aeroplane, etc.

Recently though I have developed spinal problems that make it difficult to walk, and had pneumonia, which may have reduced my ferritin levels. Whatever, I am suffering agonies of RLS at the moment, and don’t know where to turn for help.

I read about others experiences with augmentation, and the need to come off Ropinirole. This is not an option for me. I would be suicidal after one day. Even with the 300 mg of Pregabalin I have recently been given, and the low dose Naltrexone I have been taking successfully for six years, any reduction in Ropinirole would be quite impossible.

I will get my ferritin levels checked, and in the mean time am taking Ferrous Sulphate I got from the chemist. But I need to do something TODAY to stop the horrors that lie in wait for me this afternoon. Any suggestions?

[Joolsg]

I've replied but just realised you've closed your account. In the hope that you return to view the forum, I'll reply.

Sadly, the only suggestion you'll receive on here is to get off Ropinirole.

Most of us have been in your position.

Withdrawals are absolutely hellish, but you will never be able to sit still while your brain is being affected by 4mg Ropinirole.

One suggestion I would give you, if the thought of withdrawal is impossible for you, is to see a top specialist and ask to be prescribed Buprenorphine, a low dose opioid.

There are now around 3 people who have avoided horrific withdrawal by starting Buprenorphine before they start to refuce Ropinirole. They still had mild withdrawal, but not the hellish symptoms most of us go through.

Paradoxically, when I reduced from 4mg to 2mg, the withdrawals weren't too bad at all, and my RLS improved temporarily. The last 2mg was the worst.

You talk about the horrors awaiting you this afternoon. The Ropinirole is not a success for you. It's a disaster. You can't carry on with a drug that is making your RLS more and more severe.

Where are you? We can direct you to a specialist who will prescribe the meds that will help you get off Ropinirole.

[Chappy1960]

I understand your anxiety of coming off Ropinirole, I felt the same. The chances are that it may actually be making your symptoms worse having been on it for so long.

Make sure you’re taking Pregabalin as a single dose at about 8pm each evening. I’m taking 300mg but max dose is 450mg as I understand.

You could then start to decrease the Ropinirole by 25mg or 50mg for 7 days at a time. If you do it this slowly and you are taking the Pregabalin, hopefully you will find yourself in a better place, I did.

Good luck.