Has anyone tried buprenorphine?

[Polar Bear]

I hope you have a positive appointment with your doctor because although you have your methadone stash it won't last for ever, no matter how low a dose is taken.
Good luck.

[debbluebird]

I received a note from my Doctor. She is willing to write a prescription for methadone.
I've weaned off methadone twice before because Doctors didn't want me taking it. One Doctor told me she didn't think I could wean off. That Doctor is no longer my Doctor.

[debbluebird]

Bad news. I got a message tonight from the nurse practitioner. This is what she wants to give me.
2.5 mg methadone Twice a WEEK, 10 tablets a month.
This is insane. She can't be knowledgeable about RLS. Especially when mine is severe.
Needless to say, I'm very upset.

[Rustsmith]

That is an absurd dose. At that level, you would almost continually be going through withdrawal. Not only won't it help with your RLS, it will make your general well being worse.

[Polar Bear]

This is so ridiculous that I wonder has she made a mistake in the dosage. Constant withdrawal.... and useless anyway.

[debbluebird]

I talked to a long time nurse friend of mine. She's heard if this nurse practitioner and says she's an idiot. Goes from job to job with no experience in pain treatment much less RLS. She is currently working at the pain clinic.
I made an appointment with the Doctor for this coming Monday. A week from today I am to get another injection. They always help my RLS for about 2 months. Injections are every 3 months.

[Polar Bear]

An I correct in thinking that on Monday you are seeing your PCP who is quite separate from the nurse who is in the pain clinic. To clarify....... Can your PCP prescribe methadone at a dosage to suit you regardless of what the nurse in the pain clinic says.

[debbluebird]

I am seeing the Pain Doctor, not my PCP. My PCP won't prescribe any narcotics. The Nurse Practitioner is under the Pain Doctor.
The Pain Doctor told me a year or more ago that she wouldn't give me any more than 2.5 mg of methadone.
The last two days I've taken 2.5 mg of methadone at night plus a very tiny piece of the buprenorphine 1/32. I know this is not good.
Tomorrow I will only take the tiny piece of buprenorphine since 2.5 mg of methadone is not enough.
Needless to say I'm not feeling very good about all of this.

[ViewsAskew]

Ugh, Deb. This is terrible.

[Polar Bear]

Debs, thank you for clarifying the situation. I can see how you are stuck.

[debbluebird]

I realized yesterday that you shouldn't combine the methadone and the buprenorphine. The buprenorphine kicks out the methadone from the pain receptors, which will cause RLS.
So tonight only 1/32 of the buprenorphine. 2.5 mg of methadone just won't cover me and since my Doctor won't give me any more than that, I'm stuck.

[debbluebird]

I don't have much choice. The Doctor won't prescribe the amount of Methadone that will cover my RLS. So I have decided to stay with the buprenorphine. The side effects have mostly ended.
I will continue to get steroid injections in my lower back. They seem to help calm my RLS.
Such as life.

[Polar Bear]

I hope your injection does also calm your rls and as the buprenorphine side effects have eased perhaps you will find things improving.

[Dr.Placebo]

Hello, Deb, I am new to the group, and I want to offer my sympathy, since I know most doctors seem incapable of sympathy or empathy. I know there are some, though, and maybe, somehow, you will find one. I hope you do. and I hope I do someday. Sending positive energy your way...
--Paul (another RLS sufferer unable to find a provider who knows how to treat the disease).

[debbluebird]

Thanks Paul, Betty and everyone else.
My injection helped as always. My RLS is caused by pinched nerves from severe osteoarthritis.
I will now be alternating from the right and left side of my lower spine. I will get the next injection on the right side in 2 months, because it's on the other side, I do not have to wait 3 months. This will help immensely. It's always been the third month that has been difficult.
The Doctor who gives me the injections is helpful and supportive.