my story

[johndesmond]

about 12 years ago i was diagnosed with high cholestoral i was prescribed with statins but later theyhad to be stopped because of severe side effects. that is when i started with rls the doctor prescribed tablets normally for parkinsons patients (pramipexole) after experimenting i found that taking 3 a night about 9 controlled it most of the time . ihave about 20 attacks a year and even though i shoudnt i take 2 extra tablets and most of the time it works 2 or three hours later. rls affects my legs and arms and i really sympathise with people who have it worse since others dont understand! one doctor thought it was caused by bits of cholestol sitting in the veins and then freeing and triggering the nerves in the body but ive never seen this discussed !

[Hoffie]

John,

It sounds like you are taking too much pramxipole. I am far from a expert as I am a sufferer just like you. Keep reading posts on this site and you will learn a lot and sometimes others will post links to studies, etc. Don't get frustrated.

[Kaarina Administrator]

If you are taking too much pramipexole you may well be experiencing augmentation.

sleepreviewmag.com/2015/02/...

[Parminter]

Good Lord, what a doctor you have! Fire him.

There have been other people on this site who have had iatrogenic RLS, induced by too many (far too many) dopamine agonists. The drugs have hammered your dopamine receptors into slumber, so you need the drugs to control the symptoms that the drugs caused. Your doctor has hooked you on a dangerous med.

Unless you had RLS before the harm from the statins (yet another monster drug) you should be able to slowly, very slowly, wean off the dopamine agonist.

Bur first you need to check your ferritin level and assure that it is above 75, preferably above 100.

RLS is neurological, it arises in the brain, not the limbs.

If weaning off DAs proves very hard, then you must ask for an opioid to assist you for a while.

So - get your ferritin levels up, then wean off DAs with the help of opioids if necessary. You should be able to return to normal after you de-tox from the drugs.

I am so sorry we missed you, I did not see the original post. Please accept my sincere apologies - this is in fact a wonderful resource, and very helpful, and not much is missed.

[Allyp69]

So sorry your RLS started after statins in legs and arms... horrific. I've had it for 50 years but not every day. For me it's when I've had stressful day, watched too much TV, drunk a glass of alcohol or just bored....listening to music on headphones, moving more and concentrating on something helps...copper bracelets help too. Do hope you can get the right help.