Has anyone else been prescribed Sinemet as a treatment for RLS? If so, do you have any comments on its effectiveness?

[saanzale]

[Hidden]

No, sorry but I'm curious to know how it works for you. =)

Does it go by another name as well?

[saanzale]

Sinemet is normally only prescribed for Parkinson's disease, which I do not have. I have been taking it for about 10 years. I believe it helps me. Certainly, any time I have missed my nightly Sinemet, the RLS seems to have been worse. (One night in a hostel in Spain, I tried to kick down a stone wall!) But I am quite prepared to admit that the relief I experience from taking Sinemet could simply be "placebo effect".

[Hidden]

Sinemet used to be used for RLS, but its hardly used at all now. It was found that people got augmentation really quick on it. But, there are always exceptions to the rule, when it comes to RLS. I wouldnt think you are getting the placebo effect from it. As with all the Parkinson's Disease meds, which are used for RLS, you dont have to have PD to use the meds for RLS, its just we are on a much lower dose...

[nightdancer]

Some people get really good results, and some not, but Elisse is right. It is the oldest med on the market fr RLS. It is supposed to treat Parkinson's and RLS, so no placebo effect. It just works better for some, others not so much, like any other med. It is all trial and error. If it works, then that is great!

[CathyS]

Have taken Sinemet for RLS for many years and have accidentally done tests for the "placebo" effect & I'm a believer. It works for me, but unfortunately not for long. The 50/200 would give me 3-4 hours of relief and sometimes I set the alarm to take another BEFORE it wore off. For some reason, it seems to work better when taken with a Tylenol 3. If it wears off, it's a LONG time before another takes effect. Am now using the Neupro patch which is far more reliable. If I have symptoms before the patch takes effect, I use Sinemet 25/100, which helps more quickly but not for long.

[Willow62]

Hi, I've been taking half sinemet CR for about 8 months now. I found it was so much better than some of the other med that I had taken. With this drug I havent had any of the side effect you can get with some P/D drug that are used for rls, I also take 50mg of Amitriptyline at night & I no that it's said best to stay away from this drug as it can make you rls worse, however I've found that this was the best thing I did, for the last 4 months I have had the best night sleep that I've had in the last 27yrs. I'm Pain free ,movement free. As it's been said befor what works for 1 may not work for another & it's all about trial & error.

[aj3wilson]

hi there,

im new to this site today.

i first got RLS about 10 years ago and saw many doctors and neurologists originally that didnt really have many answers. The first neurologist prescribed me sinemet.

i then went and did a trial for a new drug and came off the sinemet. This had a really bad effect on me in terms of dizziness, headaches, anxiety etc..

i eventually saw a leading neurologist at kings college and was told that i shouldnt have been prescribed sinemet and that once i have started to take it the brains struggles to cope without it, therefore needing to take it forever.

he then prescribed me ropinirole (1mg) and the symptons have eased an awful lot.

Today i'm on 2mg of ropinirole as well as the sinemet and 90% of the time I have a good nights sleep etc

i'm not sure whether toe combination works or what works but my advice at the time was that i should never have had sinement and that ropinirole is a far better option.

thanks

andy