Aching lower legs

[Asha1918]

I am in the process of trying to get off Sifrol completely and am very appreciative of your practical advice. 😊 I am going down in stages and I have reduced sifrol to 0.625mg plus 300mg gabapentin and sometimes a 1/2 to 1 Prodeine tablet (500mg paracetamol/9+gms codeine) per night. I have been wakened many nights by aching lower legs.

Do you have any ideas as to why this might be? I take my tablets at 7pm and I usually am awakened at around 3.30am. I get up for about an hour then go back to bed but usually find it difficult to get back to sleep.

[Joolsg]

Sounds like normal withdrawal symptoms from Sifrol.Any withdrawal from dopamine agonists causes severe, increased RLS and wakes you during the night.

Have a look at RLS-UK website, Useful Resources and it sets out what to expect when reducing dopamine agonists.

[Asha1918 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you. It's different from that awful need- to-move intensity that I think of as "restless legs". It's more of a constant ache if that makes sense ..

[Joolsg in reply to Asha1918]

You can get very strange symptoms. Yes, it's usually an increase in the 'urge to move' but it can manifest as pain, aches, anxiety- depression.Hopefully the gabapentin will help reduce the pain & help getting you back to sleep.

You're doing really well.

Keep reducing slowly.

[Cookiebum24 in reply to Asha1918]

I have this terrible aching too since coming off Pramipexole. I get it in my ankles or my holds and thighs. When it’s in my thighs and holds, it’s a very deep intense ache that isn’t relieved from getting up and walking 😢

[restlegs1 in reply to Cookiebum24]

What are holds?

[Cookiebum24 in reply to restlegs1]

I meant hips 🤣

[Asha1918]

Thank you. It's great to be a part of such a wonderful support group. I've only just realised that it's directly linked to the RLS UK organisation mentioned in your comments above! 🙄 🤣

[Joolsg in reply to Asha1918]

Yes. It's run by RLS-UK.

[violetta254]

Have you been to see someone about the aching legs? You could be experiencing peripheral neuropathy, not just withdrawal symptoms.

[Asha1918]

Thank you. I will follow up.

[Cookiebum24 in reply to Asha1918]

I mentioned it to my GP and queried it being neuropathy.

He told me to self refer myself to physio 🤦‍♀️