Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

If I had that choice, I would go with methadone, partly because it is cheap. I don't know what the cost of an equivalent dose of oxy ER would be, but I have enough problems remembering to take my methadone once/day. If I had to take oxy 2x/day., I would continually be going through withdrawal until ...

Thursday, July 25 Welcome to Rfk213, who is 83. Doctors look at him and say it’s dementia. It’s been months of not sleeping and his doctor only cares about diagnosing him with Alzheimer’s. Don’t they realize the impact of lack of sleep on cognition? They tried to give him sleeping pills that made hi...

The symptoms of opioid withdrawal include many of the same symptoms as severe RLS, including restlessness and insomnia. Opioid withdrawal is also not driven by the clock, so it occurs 24hrs/day until the withdrawal phase is over. Buprenorphine (and methadone) also interacts a bit with the dopamine r...

Thursday, July 25 Welcome to Jules55, who has suffered from RLS for more than 40 years (age 68) and has been treated by neurologists for 25+ years. Mirapex has been the primary medication until 10/23, when augmentation became unbearable and the MD recommended introducing gabapentin (now 900mg) while...

Wednesday, July 24 Welcome to Fdlrfam, who has suffered with RLS for 20 years and wants to be empowered with the knowledge needed to control this terrible disease. We would be happy to provide as much knowledge of treating RLS as possible. All that you need to do is post a message with any questions...

Wednesday, July 24 Welcome to Michou, who is desperate to look for any solutions as he is a sufferer of over 50 years and it is getting worse. He is at the end of his tether. We should be able to provide you with some guidance that you can discuss with your doctor. However, before we can do that, we...

The only opioid that is known to cause augmentation is tramadol. That one doesn't happen often, but it does occur. Pregabalin is not an opioid, it falls into the category of anti-seizure meds like gabapentin, Horizant and even topiramate. It is most often used to treat peripheral nerve pain but also...

Keep experimenting with different CPAP masks. I have been on CPAP for about ten years now. I have to use a full face mask and have tried quite a few with varying degrees of success. The companies are continually coming out with new designs so just because you have one that works most of the time tod...

You were lucky to find a hematologist who is keeping up with the literature. Over the last two or so years, there have been a number of publications (starting I believe with Dr Earley at Hopkins followed by other RLS experts) in hematology journals explaining the importance of iron and ferritin in R...

I totally understand your frustration. I have been through two "prior authorization" ordeals already this year. The first one was for a med that my co-pay is about $5/month. Both were prescribed by my doctor and the insurance company decided that they were better qualified to practice medicine and c...

Sorry, but I am not familiar with how the concept of augmentation was originally discussed. I am certain that it was in medical journals, but since this is a condition that was specific to the use of two drugs (now three) and only RLS, it didn't get much "air play". Even after it was originally disc...

Wednesday, July 17 Welcome to RosieRo727, who is looking for advice, guidance, and encouragement regarding my RLS. She is tired of feeling alone with regards to this syndrome. One of the primary lines from the RLS Foundation is "You are not alone". A primary purpose of this board is to provide exact...

Tuesday, July 16 Welcome to Sillyak, who can’t sit and relax at the end of a busy day. It’s very stressful and frustrating. Sillyak is on medication but that doesn’t help. There are two reasons why medication might not be helping. First is that you are being treated for RLS when that isn't your prob...

I used to switch back and forth between methadone and tramadol every six months. I had a severe reaction to Wellbutrin that caused my RLS to go ballistic. I couldn't even sit for more than 20 seconds for almost a week. I was constantly on my feet with zero sleep and zero rest. In desperation, my put...

You don't want to abruptly stop taking the tramadol. Go to a half pill for a couple of days and then a quarter for a couple more before stopping. Stopping too quickly can cause Anti-depressant Withdrawal Syndrome, which can cause severe anxiety and depression that lasts for up to 90 days. I have bee...