Augmentation
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:11 am
I am so happy that I wrote twice to my doctor, both times over 2 pages, to explain that I think I am not on appropriate medication. I was not comfortable writing the letters as he was a doctor and I wasn't so he should know more about RLS than I do. However, I have spent such a long time on various sites reading everything about RLS, I am becoming an expert.
To cut a long story short, my RLS started over 10 years ago and initially I put up with it, not for long though, I went to the doctor and he prescribed 1 x 0.088mg Pramipexole. This worked fine for about 3-4 years but then stopped working. Doctor said to increase it by one tablet to 2 x 0.088mg. This I did, however, this worked for less than a year and doctor increased it by a further tablet to 3 x 0.088mg. Well that did work for less than 4 months. My RLS was now very bad and I started to get RLS during the day, any time I sat down, in my arms and legs.That is when I started reading up on RLS and I am so glad I did. I realised that I am a typical case of augmentation and I did detail this in my first letter to my doctor.
He prescribed me Gabapentin, to start with 2 x 100mg a day.
To cut a long story short, the initial dosage of Gabapentin did nothing and I am now on 600mg a day. I take 200mg about 4pm and 400mg 2 hours before I go to bed. But the main thing I did is cutting down on Pramipexole, very slowly. I cut down by half a table about 3 months ago, and a further half a tablet 1 1/2 months ago and about a couple of weeks ago by a further half a tablet. I will keep going with the reduction the same way until I am off those things.
Good news is that I am sleeping through the night now. I hesitated writing this because I thought I was tempting faith. Days are still not too good, but I put that down to still taking Pramipexole and augmentation.
But it's the nights I am so happy about. Before that I probably slept 2-3 hours a night, not in one go but on and off. I was so tired during the day. Now I feel much better and I am hopeful that eventually my days are getting better as well.
So there is hope for some of us. I know that the current condition my not last, but at least RLS is giving me a break at night for the moment.
To cut a long story short, my RLS started over 10 years ago and initially I put up with it, not for long though, I went to the doctor and he prescribed 1 x 0.088mg Pramipexole. This worked fine for about 3-4 years but then stopped working. Doctor said to increase it by one tablet to 2 x 0.088mg. This I did, however, this worked for less than a year and doctor increased it by a further tablet to 3 x 0.088mg. Well that did work for less than 4 months. My RLS was now very bad and I started to get RLS during the day, any time I sat down, in my arms and legs.That is when I started reading up on RLS and I am so glad I did. I realised that I am a typical case of augmentation and I did detail this in my first letter to my doctor.
He prescribed me Gabapentin, to start with 2 x 100mg a day.
To cut a long story short, the initial dosage of Gabapentin did nothing and I am now on 600mg a day. I take 200mg about 4pm and 400mg 2 hours before I go to bed. But the main thing I did is cutting down on Pramipexole, very slowly. I cut down by half a table about 3 months ago, and a further half a tablet 1 1/2 months ago and about a couple of weeks ago by a further half a tablet. I will keep going with the reduction the same way until I am off those things.
Good news is that I am sleeping through the night now. I hesitated writing this because I thought I was tempting faith. Days are still not too good, but I put that down to still taking Pramipexole and augmentation.
But it's the nights I am so happy about. Before that I probably slept 2-3 hours a night, not in one go but on and off. I was so tired during the day. Now I feel much better and I am hopeful that eventually my days are getting better as well.
So there is hope for some of us. I know that the current condition my not last, but at least RLS is giving me a break at night for the moment.