Horizant

[Sylviet]

has anyone been on this for RLS and what has been your experience?

[ChrisColumbus]

You can always search the Forum for keywords, see this link. Hopefully some of the posts and replies are helpful:

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/se...

[SueJohnson]

Last I remember you had abruptly stopped pramipexole and were on 600 mg of gabapentin. Why are you interested in Horizant? It is a lot more expensive than gabapentin ($165/3 months and insurance rarely covers it) and basically is just gabapentin in a theoretically 24 hour format but often doesn't last that long. Since one's RLS is mainly at night, regular gabapentin is fine although 600 mg is a low dose. You may be having daytime symptoms because you are still in withdrawal from pramipexole but neither gabapentin nor horizant are likely to help much until your symptoms settle .

If you still want it reply back here and I will tell you how to get it for that cost and how to take it.

[Sylviet in reply to SueJohnson]

I didn’t abruptly stop Pramipexole but probably needed more weaning time. A doctor who is well versed on RLS is where I learned about Horizant. It was his advice vis a vis Gabapentin vs. Horizant. I didn’t realize 600 Gabapentin is a low dose.

[SueJohnson in reply to Sylviet]

It takes 3 weeks for the gabapentin to become fully effective. Once the 3 weeks is past and your symptoms settle from the withdrawal Increase the gabapentin by 100 mg 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.

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 ."

If you take magnesium even in a multivitamin, don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and don't take calcium within 2 hours for the same reason. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[BocaMom]

It made me depressed and sluggish.

[BeachGolfer]

Horizant exacerbated my insomnia. I couldn’t sleep more than an hour at a time.

[JustVisiting23]

I tried gabapentin but didn’t experience any improvement. Switched to Horizant, 600 mg., twice per day. Horizant, along with Methadone, has been essential in controlling my RLS. Try Truax pharmacy if it is an out-of-pocket expense for you.

[Steino in reply to JustVisiting23]

Hi JustVisiting23, My new Sleep neurologist is suggesting that I get off 2mg ER Ropinerol (augmentation, second round + severe RLS sufferer) by moving onto Horizant 300mg (with Ropinerol overlap), moving to 600 mg in a week or so if I tolerate Horizant (to start the arduous process of weaning myself slowly from Rop. I am also on 5mg methadone and 1mg Clonazapam. What, if any added side effects with Horizant have you noticed (such as daytime fatigue/sleepiness) that are possibly worst in combination with methadone?

[JustVisiting23 in reply to Steino]

(Apologies if this is a repost- my original post did not seem to appear). I’ve had two challenges with Horizant- daytime sleepiness and occasional episodes of dizziness. However, I am in much better condition with Horizant than without. I’ve learned that RLS patients respond to medication in unique ways, and you may tolerate the medication quite well.

[Steino in reply to JustVisiting23]

THANK you for much for responding to my inquiry.

[JustVisiting23 in reply to Steino]

My pleasure. Anything I can do to assist a fellow sufferer I will gladly do. Not only is this condition awful, but far too often, so is the medical care. We have to help each other.

[Sylviet]

thanks everyone. Seems like the reviews are mixed. I will keep researching