Robaxin muscle relaxer possible trigger ?

[SleeplessinNC]

I could use some advice. Iron infusion didn’t offer full coverage and my ferritin skyrocketed over 1,000 and has remained there. So that’s on hold. Vimpat/lacosamide worked well for a bit then got spotty. Methadone 5 mg at 10 pm and another 5 usually between 1 & 3 am was working well.

So the doctor had me start tapering the lacosamide by 50 mg, down to 100 at 11 am and 150 at 10 pm. No withdrawal whatsoever. Last night it was time to drop again to 100 at both 11 am and 10 pm and my RLS went crazy. It took me back to a really bad place. BUT…

A different doctor just put me on methocarbamol 500 mg three times a day a a few days ago. Could THIS be the culprit?

if anyone has input on Robaxin or methocarbamol, or timing of doses for lacosamide or methadone, I’d appreciate the input. The only other thing I take is gabapentin 300 at 11 am and 10 pm for nerve pain. The times on gabapentin are simply for convenience and 24 hour coverage.

Muscle relaxer thoughts ? Thanks.

[SueJohnson]

It's probably the withdrawal from lacosamide. Try going back up and then more slowly some down. Also since it can help RLS that is also probably why reducing it has made your RLS worse. Methocarbamol as far as I can tell from my research shouldn't affect nor make your RLS worse.

[SleeplessinNC in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. I will continue the trial of methocarbamol.

I was originally put on lacosamide for RLS and it worked. It comes in 50 mg increments so my sleep neurologist told me to first taper one dose per day by 50, wait (I held there for 6 days with zero withdrawal)….then drop the evening dose by 50. Yesterday I did that and my RLS raged back.

I guess I’ll hold where I am for now. I have a myelogram Aug 27 and I have to stop both lacosamide and methocarbamol 48 hrs before and hold until 24 hrs after. I’m very nervous about the withdrawal it will cause.

Any advice on how I could temporarily increase my gabapentin dose for a few days to cover the RLS while I prep for the procedure? I have had DAWS so gabapentin has been of little help for RLS in recent years, even after I washed it out for over a year.

Thanks in advance 😊

[SueJohnson in reply to SleeplessinNC]

They will probably have you stop taking gabapentin before the myelogram too. What does your doctor suggest?

[SleeplessinNC in reply to SueJohnson]

I don’t see my doctor again until after the test. He didn’t say anything about stopping meds for the myelogram. The nurse who called me with instructions said stop lacosamide and muscle relaxers but I MAY continue on gabapentin.

Do you think adjusting the dose and timing could help get me through the RLS flare up? Could I take 600 at 7 & 9 pm for a few days while off the other drugs?

[SueJohnson in reply to SleeplessinNC]

Yes you can do that.

[SueJohnson]

If your ferritin is over 1,000 you probably tested it too soon. You need to wait 8 weeks for it to settle before testing after you have an infusion.

[SleeplessinNC in reply to SueJohnson]

I had Injectafer 750 mg in April. Ferritin tested at 8 weeks was over 1,000. Tested again at almost 14 weeks and it’s still over 1,000. Advice ? See the hematologist?

[SueJohnson in reply to SleeplessinNC]

WOW ! They will probably want you to give blood to lower it.

[HeBgBgirl]

I could only tell you from experience that any type of muscle relaxer is not good!! Kinda makes sense bc RLS attacks you when you’re tired and relaxed. So give it some more ammunition and you got yourself a recipe for a night of walking and walking and more walking!!