Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Hi,

I'm new here. I have had severe RLS since 2017 and am on Sifrol. I am hoping that someone from Australia will see this post and let me know if they have found any specialists in Sydney (or elsewhere in Australia) who actually know something about RLS; its stages and types of medication. The last "sleep specialist" I saw was arrogant and dismissive and did not want to read any of the information from the RLS Foundation or the Mayo Clinic. I think I have refractory RLS as the Sifrol is becoming less effective. Janm

Sifrol would be more commonly known to us as Pramipexole. It would be interesting to know how long you've been taking it and your dosages. Have your dosages increased. It's possible you are augmenting.

Often we have to educate our primary care doctor. Would your pcd be amenable to working with you. It's possible you need to wean off the Sifrol and consider a different class of medication such as iron therapy or Gabapentin/pregabalin. Most of us find that an opioid gives best results but have to try the other medications before getting to that point.

I hope that someone can provide the information you seek about an rls specialist local to you.

You might try sending an email to the RLS Foundation and ask if they have any names. At the recent Sleep conference, they were collecting names of providers with experience in treating RLS and I remember at least one doctor from Australia who left his name with them during the short time that I stood in the Foundation's booth.