New regime

[PeterCH]

After changing from Ropinirole to Pregabalin last week I have tried a new regime at night. So far no real symptoms during the day, apart from legs feeling a bit ‘heavy’.

Taking Pregabalin at 8.45pm, to bed at 10.15pm and waking up an hour or so later with bad RLS (legs and arms). On waking, doing RLS-UK recommended exercises and then sitting in a comfortable chair to watch TV for an hour or so and then back to bed with little or no RLS (so far) and then reasonably solid sleep until 8am.

Hopefully this will continue…and it may help others as an option.

The question for me is, would this regime work without Pregabalin?

[SueJohnson]

No it wouldn't work. That's great! I bet you are glad to be off ropinirole.

How much pregabalin are you taking? Things will get even better the longer you are off ropinirole.

[PeterCH in reply to SueJohnson]

75mg...one each day.

[SueJohnson in reply to PeterCH]

That's just a starting dose so after you have been on it 3 weeks you can increase it by 25 mg every couple of days until it completely controls your RLS.

[Joolsg]

That's impressive for one week off Ropinirole! I suspect if you are sleeping so much this soon after stopping Ropinirole- you will soon have no RLS symptoms.Stay on 75mg pregabalin for a month and monitor.

If you get more sleep & less RLS- stay on 75mg for another month.

It's unlikely that you will be able to stop Pregabalin completely.

Usually the only RLS patients who can be med free after dopamine agonists are those who respond well to Iron infusions.

[PeterCH in reply to Joolsg]

Having much wider iron tests next week.

[amrob123]

The pregabalin is probably what's helping you sleep until 8am. Unfortunately once you become more tolerant of it, it's sedative effects won't be as pronounced. It's a very low dose so I would be surprised if it's helping your RLS much.

[amrob123]

Also, why not try taking the pregabalin earlier than 8.45pm. I take mine (275mg) around 7.30pm and sleep around 11pm or midnight.

[PeterCH in reply to amrob123]

Thanks. 90 minutes was suggested here. But I will try earlier 👍

[Ambivalenttt]

Pregablin has been an absolute god send for me. I really really hope it’s as successful for you. Very well done for getting off the da. Please keep us updated on your experience with pregablin. Wishing you all the luck in the world.

[Coeso]

How much pregabalin are you taking

[skelley35]

What are the RLS-UK recommended excercises? I could nit find anything specific. Thanks