At the finish line

[Sandalsforever]

It has been a long road, but my husband just got off of Ropinirole a week ago thanks to this group and Doctor Berkowski.

The first six months he got down from 8 mg to 4 mg but couldn’t seem to get past 4 mg. About 5 months ago, he started seeing Dr. Burkowski and he is now completely off of Ropinirole. What a blessing it has been. He is currently taking 10 micrograms Buprenorphine patch and after 2-3 weeks will reduce to 7.5 micrograms. We are doing the happy dance, I have my husband back and it has been great!

Thanks again for all you folk do, it really changes lives for the better, I can’t say enough good things about you all!

[SueJohnson]

That's great! So pleased for your husband and you.

[LotteM]

Well done. Enjoy!

Just for information’s sake: did dr Berkowski start out with buprenorphine patches? Or did he start your husband on sublingual pills or buccal patches and only later on moved to buprenorphine patches? I ask, because low dose patches work for 7d and hence seem/are less adjustable, whereas sublingual pills and buccal patches work quickly ( in about 30 min) allowing for same evening adjustment in dose if needed. And why was he prescribed the (skin) patches eventually?

[Sandalsforever in reply to LotteM]

he started out on the patches. I believe one of the reasons was he was getting augmentation day and night and the patches were an even amount of Buprenorphine around the clock. It was steady and reliable.

[Laineypl]

What a lovely outcome for you.

[Jumpey]

Great news.

[Munroist]

Brilliant news. Thanks for coming back here and giving hope to others who may be considering doing the same.

[Joolsg]

Fantastic news. Help spread the news and warn people about Ropinirole and other dopamine agonists. Doctors are still prescribing them.Dr Berkowski is brilliant.

[Sandalsforever in reply to Joolsg]

Yes, I agree Dr Berkowski is wonderful. I love his approach to Medicine and his desire to help people.

[Boldgirl45]

Congratulations, great to hear! I would love to find out in what ways you've got your husband back. I feel my mum lost all personality from this drug

[Sandalsforever in reply to Boldgirl45]

My husband used to play games on his phone all the time, he was addicted to it, I was lucky that it was just games, but he would play probably 8-12 hours a day if not longer. And he was grouchy and mean when he couldn’t get his games played. He could not concentrate on other things, he was in denial about his health and ignored so many signs… When I showed him all of the information on Ropinirole and how it takes over one’s life plus he had very bad augmentation on 8 mg he finally agreed to look into it. It has been a journey- in the last year he has been diagnosed with cancer, and celiac disease along with an autoimmune flare. It was only when he started to ween off of ropinerole did he start taking care of his health . He totally deleted the games he was playing off his phone and started engaging in life. He is taking care of his health now and actually feeling better. Cancer and autoimmune illness is under control and he is back to the man I married 30 years ago, loving, happy, excited about life. He has even planned several trips in the coming year - we have also loved to travel. That drug should be taken off the market.

[Boldgirl45 in reply to Sandalsforever]

Thanks so much for your full reply. So glad things are looking up!!

[SueJohnson in reply to Sandalsforever]

What a great come around!