Help weaning off Sinemet

[Fluffyceasar]

Diagnosed 2020 with RLS. Given pramipaxole and then more agonists. Was never told about high incidence of augmentation nor impulsive behaviors. And no information about weaning off. I just switched medications when they were no longer effective. I found info about iron infusions (Fe levels 94 pre infusion) and post infusion 315. Asymptomatic for 5 months then symptoms returned. Can not get any further infusions since my Fe levels remained at 340-411. This is too high by Canadian standards .

I spoke with my GP today about weaning off sinemet and trying buprenorphine . She would like any assistance on the process of weaning and amount of buprenorphine to add. Canada does not have any protocols for this .

I would be grateful for any help or advice

[SueJohnson]

Reduce by 10% to 20% every 2 weeks. On the buprenorphine start with .2 mg.

[Joolsg]

There are no protocols for Buprenorphine. We on this forum have been advising each other through trial and error.There is a withdrawal schedule on RLS-UK under Useful Resources. Drop half a 0.088 pill every 2 weeks.

Add 0.1mg Buprenorphine at each dose drop. Stay at 0.4 to 0.6mg Buprenorphine until 2 weeks after your last dose of Pramipexole so you keep to the lowest effective dose.

Common side effects of nausea & sweats & panic attacks and insomnia can be resolved.

For nausea- have medical cannabis oil with 20% THC & take 0.2 to 0.3ml at night & 0.1ml during day as required. I was able to stop cannabis after 2 to 3 weeks & nausea had gone.

For sweats, insomnia and panic attacks add 50 to 75mg pregabalin at night.

For depression add trazodone or wellbutrin.

There is only one Buprenorphine study for RLS- by Andy Berkowski.

Here it is.

neurologyadvisor.com/report...

[Madlegs1 in reply to Joolsg]

First line--- read Pramipexol for Buprenorphine. Regarding reduction dose.

😎😅

[SueJohnson in reply to Madlegs1]

She is currently on sinemet which is carbidopa/levodopa

[Joolsg in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. I just read the first line - Pramipexole. I can't quite believe doctors are SO BACKWARD & negligent as to switch a patient onto Levodopa after 2020.

[SueJohnson in reply to Joolsg]

She is currently on sinemet which is carbidopa/levodopa