RLS and Tramadol

[Vivace]

Hi Everyone,

I am so grateful for all the advice and understanding on this site! I haven't posted in awhile. It's been a rough few months. Slowly weened off Ropinerole in the summer. Did fine until the very end... then I went through hell. 5 days and 5 nights in a row with zero minutes of sleep, walking through my house all night long because I couldn't sit or lay down at all. Finally got some relief with Tramadol 100 mg along with Pregabalin 250 mg. However, the itchiness that I have with 100 mg Tramadol is often unbearable and lately has been waking me up every hour at night, defeating the purpose! Even at 75 mg I'm pretty itchy. 50 mg and my legs are still going crazy. It seems that I'll be stuck between the choice of terrible itchiness and sleep or RLS.

Are there any other options out there? I am also concerned about long-term effects of Tramadol and would really like to come off of this! I took my last dose of Ropinerole in July 2024. Could I still be in withdrawal or is this just RLS? Would love your help.

[Joolsg]

If you took the last dose of Ropinirole in July 2024- your withdrawals will have settled.Most people are not 'cured' of RLS though and will probably require meds for life.

There are some who don't need meds after an iron infusion.

If you experience opioid itching, switching to another opioid MIGHT not result in this particular side effect.

So you could try codeine, oxycodone or a longer half life opioid (methadone/Buprenorphine).

Or- if you want to stop ALL opioids and to rely on pregabalin alone- you will probably experience a rough few weeks until your body adjusts to zero opioids. The most common symptom of opioid withdrawals is increased RLS.

You could ask to increase the pregabalin temporarily while you reduce tramadol.

And slow down the tramadol withdrawal.

[SueJohnson]

Have you ever tried the 225 pregabalin without the tramadol? You might find it controls your RLS. If not but if it helps you can increase it by 25 mg every couple of days until it does control your RLS. 450 mg is considered the maximum but you can take up to 600 mg.

For your itching you can try an anti histamine. There are only 4 that are safe for RLS: OTC Claritin, zyrtec or allegra or prescription clarinex.

[Pippins2]

You could add in a NON sedating Antihistamine for the itching .I use the one a day Citirizine which is safe for RLS but if you are unsure before you use an Antihistamine check the type on here .