Buprenorphine day three.

[RLSAndy]

Hey guys, i wanted to update my meds and journey. After coming off Ropinirole last year and pregabalin at 600mg alongside 60mg codeine not working i decided to invest in a private consulting with Dr Murphy in MCR (UK) and discuss Buprenorphine in which before offering it me via his NHS up there (im Birmingham) he wrote to my GP here explaining everything regular GPs mess up around RLS and about the drug. After a few heated app i have now been prescribed it and had the 5mcg patch on for three nights, in which i have not had RLS or if i have id say it’s at around 5% and gone from 5 to 7.5/8 hours sleep.

Ive now been diagnosed with the heart condition AF in which im taking a small dose of Beta blockers which atm dont seem to be interfering.

Side effects are maybe slight dizziness and sleepiness in the day but ill be honest, after coming off DAs and the shit ive been through im a warrior and am able to battle through it all, i weight train pretty hardcore and am a chef working long hours so i literally carry on unless my body makes me stop.

ill keep this updates but i am feeling positive around my RLS so far 🙏🏻

[SueJohnson]

That's great! So pleased for you.😀

[Joolsg]

Fantastic news. 5mcg is the smallest dose patch. Dr Murphy prefers the patch for some reason.Most other neurologists prescribe the sublingual pills.

Many report that the patch wears off at day 4/5 so watch out for that.

Lotte adds another patch to the existing patch at day 5. Davchar adds a small dose of sublingual pills on days 4 to 7.

And tell your GP of the improvement.

It's time they realised what they've done to people!

[RLSAndy in reply to Joolsg]

Ive read that about it wearing off, i plan on simply taking the one off once its done and putting another on, my battle then will be if the Drs will believe me and prescribe more based on my info. Small steps but ill take the small wins right now and keep fighting for what everyone else takes for granted, a normal nights sleep.

[Joolsg in reply to RLSAndy]

Keep a diary. Monitor RLS. If it worsens on day 4/5- add the next patch early. Lotte recommends leaving the old patch in place because the new patch takes around 20 hours to 'kick in'. Leaving the old patch on avoids 'opioid withdrawals'.And you can switch to pills if you don't get 24/7 cover.

I get zero RLS ever on 0.4mg Buprenorphine pills.

[RLSAndy in reply to Joolsg]

I will definitely be keeping a log to take to the Drs, it was hard enough to get the patch i can only imagine them if i ask for extra pills too 🤣

[Joolsg in reply to RLSAndy]

One day they'll apologise to us for the appalling treatment we've received.And you're correct about getting Buprenorphine. It's red listed in many areas.

The patch releases an even supply of Buprenorphine each hour over 24 hours so is better suited to chronic pain. The pills release most of the active ingredient over the first 11 hours so if taken at 9 or 10pm works really well for RLS, as RLS is worse from 9pm until 7am.