Everyone talks about the special rls dr. in california. I can't remember his name. Does anyone know if you can get a phone appt. with him? Or, is there any other really great rls dr. you can recommend. I am suffering terribly going off methodone. I cant go on much longer. I am so tired of pacing the floor. My legs are so weak. I appreciate any help.
I am desperate. Thank you so much!!!
You're probably thinking of Dr Mark Buchfuhrer:
stanfordhealthcare.org/doct...
He is also involved in the RLS Help website:
Many people talk about the value of travelling to an appointment with him, but I've not yet found whether he offers telehealth appointments: someone else may know...
Depending on where you live, there may be another expert nearer to you or one who offers a phone appointment. SueJohnson has various names and locations and may be able to suggest someone.
On the other hand, Sue., Joolsg or one of the other experts on here may be able to offer some advice to help with coming off methadone
And see Jools' reply about methadone answering your other post
He does do telehealth appointments but you may need to see him in person first . His phone is (562) 904-1101 His email is somno5586@outlook.com
Sue, any suggestions for coming off methodone. My dr. didnt think it was withdrawal since both drugs are in the same family. But I have to say it feels the same as when I went off mirapax. Maybe I should take the methodone and oxycodone together??
If you email Dr. Buchfuhrer he is excellent in answering questions for free.
do you know his email
Sue gave his email in her earlier reply: somno5586@outlook.com
Thank you
He only does telehealth calls if you are a in CA - my husband uses his daughter’s address then has to fly to CA to either see in person or call from her house -crazy
Thank you. I will make a note of that.
I guess it’s the state law - I know Dr Berkowski ca do telehealth calls in MI or AZ because he is licensed in both places - it’s too bad for sure
I believe you are speaking about Dr Mark Buchfuhrer. He has an office in Downey California. Give his office a call. He is a wonderful specialist on RLS. Good luck
Another resource: Dr. Steven Poceta, San Diego. He is part of a Quality Care Center for RLS. He helped me immensely.
Sleep Health MD is a practice in Northern California that I used until I moved to Europe. They do video and phone appointments and prescribe Methadone, etc.
I keep a list of good doctors, especially ones who will prescribe an opioid in case anyone needs one so it would be great if you could tell me the name of the doctor you saw.
I have been seeing seeing dr. Divya Gupta and she does prescribe opiods. She has prescribed oxycodone for me now. Prior to this she prescribed methodone. Im waiting for the oxycodone to work. I feel better but far from great. I have no appetite and food turns me off. Don't know why. I just feel like crap.
Thank you for the name. I hope the oxycodone soon works for you.
Hi Sue, I was thinking about how to solve my rls problem. I can't go on feeling like this. I cant do anything but stay at home and be miserable. I had an idea. I have to talk to the dr, but it is the weekend. I was thinking about taking gabapentin with the oxycodone. I have a large supply of it. I took it before and I went off of it because I thought that was making me so tired. After I went off the gabapentin I was still tired so I think it was the methodone making me tired. I feel its worth a try. I was only taking 500 mg of gabapentin then. I will ask my dr. next week. What do you think. I think I trust you more than the dr. Thank you for everything you do for everybody. You are an angel.
You can try but it takes 3 weeks to be fully effective so it may not help.
Let me remind you of how to take it also in case you are prescribed it by the doctor.
Beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin After 3 weeks increase it by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. The reason to wait 3 weeks is to let your body get used to it as well as the fact it takes that long to be fully effective. Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime as the peak plasma level is 2 hours. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime.
Most of the side effects will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin ."
If you take magnesium even in a multivitamin, don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and don't take calcium nor antacids within 2 hours for the same reason .
I need to try a new neurologist if this one can't get me better. Do you know anyone in NJ
New Brunswick - Dr. Matthew T Scharf - Neurology and Sleep Medicine - Comprehensive Sleep Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - One of the authors of of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of RLS. If you haven't seen them, they are at jcsm.aasm.org/doi/pdf/10.56...
Hi Lorri,
Definitely please get in touch with Dr. B. He is totally unselfish with his time and expertise and has helped me tremendously. He will get you back heading in the right direction.
What a wonderful human being he is.
Paul
Thanks. i'll try
And the big question, why are you "going off" of methadone? Of course you are suffering without it if you have RLS and no other meds for it.
I am going off methodone because it wasn't completely getting rid of my restless legs. also I didn't like the side effects. I would sleep all day. Plus my taste is off.
I now have a prescription for oxycodone. I took it last night and it helped.
How much were you taking and how long did you try it? My RLS is way less with methadone than it was with oxycodone and it doesn't make me feel stoned or have a mini withdrawal every morning. It took about a month to get over most of the drowsiness. Still does make me too sleepy though but way less than oxycodone. No, it doesn't take it all away but I use a massager on my legs if I wake up or get up and do a puzzle for a half hour or so and then I sleep well.
I took 10 mg a night for about 9 months. I would still wake almost every night with rls.
The reason I went off it because I was so tired all day and if I still had rls what was the point of taking it.
That's true. It is definitely not perfect. And yes, I am tired all the time but I fight it with exercise. And I do wake up at night with some RLS most nights but I haven't found anything better. . But nothing that I can't make go away with some leg massage or walking around a little. Having augmented on pramipexole, this is close enough to a real life that I have to stay on it. This disease truly sucks! But I haven't tried buprenorphine and I am not sure my neurologist would prescribe it. Good luck with oxycodone, were you able to get extended release?
I got oxycodone hcl. I tried buprenorphine. After one night I was feeling so weird my dr. took me off it. Af te r going off pramipexole I have never been the same. My dr. took me off the pramipexole not due to augmentation but she felt it was not good for me. There would be problems down the road. I wish I never went off it. But going off it was pure hell and I wouldn't go back on it. Anyway Im sure the dr. wouldn't prescribe it. Even though I would still get rls with pramipexole but not as bad as now.
Thanks for replying.
how much methodone do you take
10 mg.
It is probably Dr Mark Buchfuhrer In Downey, CA. He is extremely knowledgeable about RLS and treatments. I was in his office about 6 months ago for my RLS and met a man that had traveled from the east coast to see Dr Buchfuhrer. My insurance doesn’t cover so I have to pay out of pocket. But it is well worth it to finally get relief.
RLS doctor
RLS back again
Advice Rls
Need advice on controlling RLS post -op 
