Low dose Ropinorol

[Burrelle]

I thought that very recently I saw a post about supplementing gabapentin with a low dose of Ropinorol. I am currently taking 1500 milligrams of gabapentin and I have breakthroughs about 2 out of 3 nights. I don’t want to increase the gabapentin because of balance issues. Earlier this year, my doctor suggested adding low dose time-released Ropinorol which I had been hesitant to try. Is that a safe way to go? If so, what amount is considered low dose? Would Horizant work better than gabapentin using an equivalent dosage?

[Joolsg]

Dopamine Agonists are no longer prescribed by experts because they all cause severe worsening of RLS.Are you in the UK?

Gabapentin can cause dizziness. How and when do you take it?

[Burrelle in reply to Joolsg]

I am in the United States. I have CMT (Charcot Marie-Tooth) which is where the balance issues start from. I take 300 mg gabapentin at 5 PM, 600 at 7 PM, and 600 at 9 PM. I know Ropinorol is an agonist but I thought I saw on this forum (by Sue maybe?) that a low dose would not cause augmentation. Or maybe I dreamed it!

[Joolsg in reply to Burrelle]

I see Sue has replied.

[SueJohnson]

You can add ropinirole two times a week without danger of augmentation but no more often. As far as Horizant, you don't have where you live on your profile. It is not available in the UK. It is available in the US but is expensive although there is a way to get it for about $165 for 3 months. Insurance doesn't usually cover it. If you decide to go that route I can tell you how, Since Horizant is basically gabapentin in an extended release form. It can cause balance problems too but might or might not to the same extent.

A low dose would be .25 mg

[Burrelle in reply to SueJohnson]

So glad to know that I wasn’t dreaming that! Thanks Jools and Sue for your always knowledgeable and helpful advice!

I looked again at my profile and I see that I have the US listed.

[SueJohnson in reply to Burrelle]

Strange because I just looked and I don't see it.

[Burrelle in reply to SueJohnson]

The “hide” buttons were checked.😉 Should be good now!

[pyramidhiker in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue, I just read your post about using Ropinerole 2X per week without concern for augmentation. Has this been explored with any particular dose? Your comment gave me some emotional relief as well as I would rather supplement my Horizant with episodic Ropinerole rather than Percocet. I am still in the early process of my transition from Ropinerole to Horizant and am at 1 and 1/2 Percocet at night. I have also found Lunesta to help with staying asleep rather than being awoken with mild symptoms. Also found that Lunesta decreases my walking time at night from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, which includes some stretching. Sometimes I feel like a walking pharmacy, lol. BTW my highest dose was 2 mg. I reduced .25 every 2 weeks and finished a few days ago.

[SueJohnson in reply to pyramidhiker]

That's great that you are off ropinirole.! .25 ropinirole can be used. I use lunesta too for a different reason and love it.

[pyramidhiker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thx Sue. Still waiting for Horizant RLS reduction benefits.

[SueJohnson]

Unless you have RLS during the day there is no need for a timed release ropinirole.