Relacs.com - Andy Berkowski's website has some great articles in the BLOG section.
This article compares Buprenorphine to methadone
For those with refractory RLS, which doesn't respond after augmentation on dopamine agonists, these 2 drugs are often the only ones that help.
This article may help persuade your UK neurologist that these drugs are effective.
It appears that Buprenorphine is actually better than methadone.
hey Joolsg, I am on buprenorphine and I have not had one episode on RLS since . I was suicidal and ended up being addicted to opioids (oxycodone) because the dosage didn’t last long enough and I was getting breakthrough RLS. I ended up going to rehab and spent 3 days in withdrawal and I went crazy. I was then put on the buprenorphine and I have not had an issue since . …… but now the community drugs service have decided that I have to be weaned off it. A: because I’m not an IV drug user and B: apparently their pathways say I HAVE to come off it. I’m absolutely distraught. I have explained to them about the RLS and if this comes back, I will be straight away looking for opioids from wherever I can get it. But still they say that they don’t prescribe for this reason and as I’m not at risk of blood bourse viruses due to not being an IV drug user, then there is no risk and I’m to come off. They are going to start reducing the dose on the 22 nd of this month and I am in sheer despair. I have finally found relief and have never had to up the dose of the buprenorphine. I just don’t know what on earth I’m going to do . GPs won’t prescribe opioids to me at all and the neurologist said that I am on the best treatment for RLS, but if they decide to take me off , there isn’t anything he can do apart from prescribe more rotigotine patches . No one will listen and I have decided that I would rather die than suffer RLS constantly again. Anyone have any ideas of what I can do?
Is this UK? Why is your neurologist saying there's nothing he can do?He can take over prescribing Buprenorphine. A neurologist can prescribe it.
If it's red listed where you are, then transfer to a GP surgery within one hour travel where they will follow your neurologist's instructions to prescribe.
And say you were suicidal but now you are not.
If they stop this treatment, they are ignoring the evidence from experts in the USA.
I also suggest you instruct a lawyer.
Switalskis and Leigh Day have successfully sued hundreds of UK doctors for negligence ( failure to warn of very high risk of ICD). I'm sure Kimberley Bradfield at Switalskis would be able to sue the team that are trying to stop a brilliant RLS treatment that works and does NOT cause addiction or tolerance.
Can you send an urgent message to Dr Chris Murphy in Salford or Professor MATTHEW Walker at UCL.
Also you need to write to your local MP urgently and explain your situation.
I was just going to post this, but you beat me to it. Great! I get Dr. B's stuff in my inbox since I'm a patient. BTW, did you see that Dr. B recently added Arizona, that is, he can do telemed visits if patient in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, or Ohio.
Apologies that message was for Joolsg I mistakenly put it on the wrong thread 😔
Great.Thanks for posting .
Except in pronunciation.🤣
Do you know if Dr. B will take new patients from New Jersey
I don't. But you can email him to ask. I don't understand US medicine prescribing rules as this is a UK website.But I know some doctors can prescribe out of state by telemedicine as long as the first appointment is in person.
Dr Buchfuhrer's website has a link to his email or you can write to him at
somno5586@outlook.com
Thank you for the link! We could all learn a lot from this Blog.
methadone or buprenorphine
buprenorphine for RLS 
Buprenorphine insomnia
Buprenorphine patches v tablets
