My Recent Experiences with Requip

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lilyred
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:07 pm

My Recent Experiences with Requip

Post by lilyred »

Hello,

This is my first post, although my battle with RLS has been a long one. I am writing to find out if anyone else has had the difficult experiences I have had with Requip.

As with all the other drugs I have been prescribed for my nightly RLS, Requip started off wonderfully, and I enjoyed a few weeks of real sleep. What a treat that was! I have a new husband after being single for many long years. He gets up at 4:30 AM to leave for work 6 days a week. His sleep is important to him. My restlessness and inability to lay still in our bed is a real problem for me. As I'm sure many of you do, I get up and leave the bedroom. I didn't completely realize before our marriage a few months ago how my night habits were running my life.

I read carefully the literature from the pharmacy describing possible side effects from Requip. But I wasn't prepared for what actually happened to me. The drug was prescribed to me by a sleep specialist. I was also told to begin taking 900 mgs. of iron daily b/k my iron is on the low side.

Within a few weeks, I began experiencing something I'd never encountered before. I am 47 years old and have a lot to do on our small farm, inside and out. The problem began manifesting at night (wouldn't you know?).--Every time I moved my arms, I had very bad pain in my shoulders and shoulder blades. Some sleep positions were absolutely intolerable, and I described the feeling as having painful "kinks" in my arms. I noticed I was becoming very stiff in my ankles and legs upon rising, too.

So...I self-diagnosed. I had (practically) overnight developed arthritis.

The condition worsened. While pulling on a handle, my fingers locked and turned blue at the site of impact. When I scrubbed my kitchen sink, any outward motion of pressure with my arms and hands would cause pain.

Next, I noticed my always-borderline skin problems were worsening. I'm a redhead with tender skin, even on good days. The dermatologist said I had sebhoreic (sp?) dermatitis. A friend told me that this condition, as well as arthritis, have been described as over-reactions of the immune system. Hmmm....what is my body fighting against, I began to ask myself?

I still hadn't put it all together and found the culprit - Requip.

Next, I developed a very itchy case of athlete's foot around my little toe--another skin condition. Unusual, considering this was happening during the summer, and my feet hadn't seen the inside of anything more confining than flip-flops for months. I was under the impression that athlete's foot was a disease boys got from sweaty socks! Not girls in flip-flops!

I was also stumbling, especially during the morning hours. I almost broke our new, expensive frameless glass shower door. Phew, that was a close one.

I took my son to his freshman year at college some 550 miles from home. Upon my return trip, my legs were so swollen you could not dent them with a fingernail. I felt like sausage--ready to explode. That scared me. And it hurt.

I finally made the connection between all these problems and Requip, which had ceased working reliably. I told my friends and family, "If I don't take it, I'm guaranteed an 'RLS' night. If I do take it, I might avoid an RLS episode."

I finally called the sleep specialist and made an appointment, stating I could no longer tolerate the side-effects. The arthritis had abated somewhat in the months since I began using Requip--I no longer felt that my life was totally in ruins between joint pain & stiffness along with sleep-deprived nights. I was taking 2 ibuprofen every night, along with the Requip and iron supplement, to conquer the soreness in my shoulders.

God, I get sick of swallowing pills. I've started accupuncture and have a goal of getting off all drugs for RLS.

The sleep doc put me on Mirapex. I see lots of folks mentioning it in these posts. Is it working on my RLS? Nope. My RLS is better than it would be without anything, but I'm still having nightly episodes of wakefulness that begin occuring within about one hour of falling asleep. My accupuncturist/counselor has helped me identify a pattern of feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities in my life, the jobs to be done, the endless agenda...so I'm looking at that and hoping some lifestyle changes will help. Things have been so bad for me I've considered applying for disability. Do RLS sufferers do that?

Most of all, I wanted to tell everyone who's struggling with Requip side effects, that mine have mostly disappeared in less than 2 weeks on the alternative drug. Arthritis - 95% gone. Leg swelling - gone. Athlete's foot - 95% gone, even now that we're into closed-toe shoe weather! The last weekend I was on Requip, my legs swelled horribly while I was confined to a desk doing a hours-long task. And the headache I had wouldn't stop throbbing even after taking prescription medication for it, too. (Maybe it was because I was working on taxes!) Requip proved to be quite a nightmare for me, and that's something to say for someone who hardly ever sleeps long enough to dream.

Please write to me if you are so inspired. This weekend's Family Weekend at that faraway college, but we'll be back next week and I'll be happy to add anything I can to a discussion of RLS.

If your nights can't be passed in sleeping, may you discover the magic in the stars.

Peace,
Suzanne

M0onDreamr
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:58 am
Location: Ohio

Post by M0onDreamr »

Suzanne, My mother-in-law recently experience the same type of symptoms. Started with athletes foot, then her hands started to itch and blister. Her legs swelled and were red and hot to the touch. Her doctor put her on lasics (sp?) and sent her home. TWO DAYS LATER she was in the hopital with Group G strep!!! She had the swelling and foot problem for about a week before it presented in hands. Her temp was over 104 and she started hallucinating!!! You may want to have your doctor check your blood for toxics. (Group G is basically blood poisoning) They told her that if she would have waited another couple of hours it could have caused brain damage, or worse, been fatal. There have been LOTS of reports about strep and staph in many of the schools across America already this year. She thought she might have gotten the athlete's fott from her son from using the same bathmat!! All it took was 1 open sore on her foot to get into her bloodstream. Hope I didn't scare you, but I would definately go and see the doctor!!

Jenn
Just a M0onDreamr in Ohio

Jewels
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Post by Jewels »

I had been taken Mirapex for 2 years for my RLS. It worked great in the beginnng. Later on my Dr. had to keep increasing the dosage. Then I started to get RLS in my arms, not just my legs. Now it started happeining during the day and night. After research I found that about 30% that take Mirapex have the systptoms get worse. I was one of those. I weaned off of it. This experience was horrible, it was like I had been on drugs, sysptoms got much worse, could not sleep of keep still for two nights. I finally had to borrower some percusets from my mother just to knock me out to sleep. I finally got through the withdrawl and will never go back. It took many months for sysptoms to go away and some of them did not but I am worried they may be permanent. I had read that Mirapex is similiar to Requip just a stronger dosage. Just be careful so that you do not get the same things you had happen with Requip. Hopefully it will not be the same for you as it was for me.

Susan Brunelle
Susan

ctravel12
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Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:02 am
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my recent experiences with requip

Post by ctravel12 »

Hi Susan
I used to take requip and I had the same symptons. I was fine when I first started taking it, but then all of sudden I had rls anytime of the time and very painful and also made me extremely nauseated. I finally quit requip about a month ago and am now taking clonazepam .5mg and so far it is doing fine and hope that it continues.
Charlene
Taking one day at a time

FidgetBoy
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:07 pm
Location: Minnesota

Post by FidgetBoy »

Lily- There is a 7% incidence of leg edema (or swelling) with Requip and the muscle/joint pain you were describing is listed as "very common" with Requip. I know the Mayo guidelines for RLS suggests switching from Requip to Mirapex or vice-versa but there will always be a percentage of people who don't respond to either drug. I've had good success with neurontin and narcotics for my symptoms.

Jewels- The majority of the side-effects from a drug should go away within 2 weeks of stopping. Unfortunately, and perhaps I'm still jaded about this, my RLS has continued to be much worse ever since I took requip and mirapex. While the other side-effects are gone, i've had distinct augmenting of my RLS symptoms since taking those drugs. Perhaps my symptoms would of been worse anyway but it makes me suspicious. :?
Josh

ViewsAskew
Moderator
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Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by ViewsAskew »

Josh, I am positive you are right. While some of the augmentation went away, over 50% (or more) is still with me 1 1/2 years after stopping.

I strongly feel that a person MUST stop the medication immediately when augmentation first sets in. Until they know more, it is insanity to keep taking it as some of us are proof that the symptoms do not all go away. I had RLS once or twice a month - now I have it everyday and it's only controlled by Methadone, as no other drug I've tried touches it. At least it is not 24/7 like it was.

So, please, anyone who had symptoms that seem to get worse while taking any dopamine agonist, see your doctor immediately. Consider your options. DO NOT just keep taking more of the drug without careful thought and consideration, even if your doc wants you to.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

Anonymous

Post by Anonymous »

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Last edited by Anonymous on Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by ViewsAskew »

Absolutely. Anyone with RLS should be warned about taking SSRIs. And anyone taking SSRIs who doesn't have RLS to begin with should be warned to look for the symptoms.

We can only hope that one day soon, all docs know about these things are can look for them in their patients.

I feel similar to you, Em. I had such mild RLS - although the PLMD was wicked. If I'd never taken those dratted DAs, and if my doc knew more, I'd never, ever have gotten to this place - both physically and at this discussion board. Glad I met all of you, but truth be told, I'd be happy to be in ignorance of it.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest

Managing Your RLS

Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.

nheimerle
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:55 pm

Leg pain...

Post by nheimerle »

Well, I guess I'm not alone. Ever since I started taking Requip I've noticed a few changes which I don't care for. One being a cough and scratchy throat which makes me gag so I'm eating a great deal of saltine crackers in order to not throw up. Then I started experiencing pains in my legs making my walking a little difficult at times. I'm sleeping fine but when I get up in the mornings my legs hurt. My house has two floors and lately I try and stay downstairs and do not go upstairs unless it's to sleep or absolutely necessary.

Before taking Requip I was taking a sleeping medication which kept me from having any RLS symptoms the only problem was I was out cold. I like being able to hear what's going on around me but all the other sleeping pills I took didn't do the job. So, I either take Requip and suffer from everything else or take the sleeping pills and hope nothing too drastic happens while I'm out cold.

I read where high blood pressure medication can make the RLS symptoms worse. Well, I can't stop taking those that's for sure.

Well, I'm glad to be able to discuss my problems with others who know what I'm talking about. I have mentioned my problem to some people and they tell me they have never heard of this.

My mom used to have it so I've inherited it from her. She used to leave her bed at night and sleep on the couch. That's exactly what I was doing until I started taking Requip. I used to lay on the couch until I felt my legs had calmed down and then I would return to bed and sleep.

My son thinks he may have it, I sure hope not. It's not what I would want my children to inherit from me...

Norma L. Heimerle

ctravel12
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Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:02 am
Location: Lake Havasu City, Arizona
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my recent experiences with requip

Post by ctravel12 »

Hi Norma, welcome to this site. I am so sorry that you have rls, but have found some wonderful people here that will definitley give you alot of support. I used to take Requip and in the beginning it did work, but then I started to have rls 24/7 and very painful. I finally got weaned off of it and am now taking .5mg of clonazapem and is so far working for me and hope that it continues. There is a good forum New to Rls "Managing Rls" has alot of good information to read. I know where you are coming from saying alot of people do not know what you are talking about. I had mention this one to one of my friends and she said I have heard about it but have do not know what it is. My only comment was "I hope that you never get it" I would not wish this on my worse enemy. I also hope that your son is not getting it. Have you seen a dr regarding your rls? I hope that you are able to get some relief. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Charlene
Taking one day at a time

tazzer
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Post by tazzer »

Welcome Norma, my experience with requip at the higher dosage was I threw my toes up!!! not to mention the vivid dreams, talk about trippy. needless to say i didn't stay on the requip too long.

dee
I feel like a science project!!!

“The syndrome is so common that it should be known to every physician.”
Dr Karl Ekbom, 1945

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