I was prescribed requip for leg spasms which tended to wake me up. I believe that I need requip because I found that I had undiagnosed peripheral neuropathy which was helped by requip. The problem is the requip makes me feel dizzy and nauseous. For some reason the feeling really frightens me.
Is their anything I can do about this side effect?
Requip dealing with side effects
Requip dealing with side effects
James Briggs
Well, I stopped taking Requip years ago but I can get you started until others chime in. Requip does have a fair percentage of people taking it who have nauseous feelings as a side effect.
www.rlshelp.org's resident doctor says this, "The Requip dose should be increased every 5-7 days by .25 mg until symptoms are relieved."
So the question is how much are you taking and how fast are you increasing the dose? Of course, there are some meds that treat nausea but I don't know if these meds exasperate RLS, like Torecan or Compazine.
Welcome to the RLS club here. Empathy awaits!
www.rlshelp.org's resident doctor says this, "The Requip dose should be increased every 5-7 days by .25 mg until symptoms are relieved."
So the question is how much are you taking and how fast are you increasing the dose? Of course, there are some meds that treat nausea but I don't know if these meds exasperate RLS, like Torecan or Compazine.
Welcome to the RLS club here. Empathy awaits!
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ViewsAskew
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Yes, the anti-nausea meds can worsen RLS. There is one that doesn't, can't remember the name.
The nausea can go away within a few weeks. Also, you can try splitting the dose - take 1/2 of it at, say 8 PM and the other half at, say 10 PM. Also try less and go up more slowly. Many docs have people go up too fast and to too high an amount. We all differ regarding what helps. Some people need very, very little of it. My first doc had me go up way too fast and told me to get to .50 of Mirapex. Turned out that .125 was all I needed at first.
The nausea can go away within a few weeks. Also, you can try splitting the dose - take 1/2 of it at, say 8 PM and the other half at, say 10 PM. Also try less and go up more slowly. Many docs have people go up too fast and to too high an amount. We all differ regarding what helps. Some people need very, very little of it. My first doc had me go up way too fast and told me to get to .50 of Mirapex. Turned out that .125 was all I needed at first.
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.
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.
The last neurologist that I saw for my RLS/PLMS and the increasing pain in my right leg, prescribed 6-.25mg tablets of Requip in the morning, 2-.25mg tablets in the afternoon, and another 6 tablets in the evening...and this was the starting dose! I didn't have a fun time for the week I took the med., and I vowed I'd never take it again...in any dose. Well recently the pain in my leg has increased to the point that it feels like the muscles are being tied in knots, and this muscle stuff (I believe) is whats causing sciatic nerve pain (I believe)...It's funny how so many of us attempt to diagnose our problems, and do it successfully! Well, I don't know if I've got this thing figured out so I'll give the MD's some more time to try to diagnose my pain. Sorry for rambling on, and leaving the original topic. (I'm afraid that I do that quite a lot...I've got to work on that.) What I'm getting at is that the severity of my leg pain has increased quickly, and I can't sit at work, in my car, or even lay in bed at night because of this. Then I remembered how so many people on this forum described their RLS and PLMS as causing pain, and I figured that if I could control the RLS effectively, the pain would cease. So, despite my other experiences with Requip, I'm giving it another try. Last Saturday night I took just one .25mg tablet, and another tablet last night, and the pain is going away. Like so many others here, I'm being cautious about the relief I'm getting, because for some of us, the relief is only temporary... but I have to admit that for the first time in a long, long time (even longer than this post), I've got restful sleep without waking, and without pain. By the way, I, like you, also have a peripheral neuropathy, and the numb pain in my feet also seems to be going away. I've been taking Neurontin for a long time for various problems, and it never worked as well for the neuropathic pain as the combination of Requip and Neurontin. I've been experiencing some nausea and dizziness (I turned around to greet the people next to me in church yesterday, and was afraid that I might hit the floor...it's like my brain wasn't turning as fast as my body), and I seem to be bumping into and dropping things more than usual, but I'm resolved to continue the Requip at this relatively small dose for at least a week, to see if it continues to help. I, like you tend to become fearful when I get dizzy, since that was one of my anxiety/panic symptoms, and the feeling that I might drop to the ground in public makes the fear grow. Clonazepam at .5mg twice a day has really helped me with that problem for the past four years, and I've decided that for me the risks of dependence on this drug are offset by the benefits (no anxiety/panic, and better sleep). So, getting back to your question about dealing with the side effects of nausea/dizziness with Requip, unless these adverse effects persist, and are severe enough to affect your daily life, I'd wait and see if these problems decrease with time. I'm assuming that you just recently started the Requip, right? Also, like Hos asked, could your dosing be too aggressive (too much too soon)? Again, I'm sorry for the length of this reply...I'm afraid some day one of the moderators are going to ban me from ever posting anything that exceeds four sentences....H'mmm, I wonder if I could get around that by using run-on sentences? Well, I hope and pray that all of us here find answers to our questions, and relief from our pain and sleepless nights. Hope that you, and any others viewing this have a great day and a peaceful, restful night. ---Andy
Last edited by Kwazylegs on Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hi Andy
I am wondering about something you said. You mentioned having sciatic pain and numbness. Have you ever had an MRI done on any part of your back?
For the past 2 1/2 years, I've experienced numbness on my left side with some pain in my back toward the end of that time. I had MRI's done on my lumbar, thoracic and cervical spines. The MRI on my thoracic spine was just done on August 9 and it was discovered that I had 6 herniated discs in that part of my spine. That was causing the numbness, which was getting progressively worse. I had back surgery on September 12 and my symptoms have disappeared.
I'm not suggesting that you have a problem with your back, but maybe you should check this out if you haven't already done so. I was told that I had fibromyalgia and periphernal neuropathy. I don't believe I ever had fibro and all my symptoms of PN are gone.
I still have RLS, but instead of the back surgery making mine worse, I'm actually better. Never will be cured--mine is primary. But, so far, at least, I'm better.
I'm not giving medical advice here---I'm no expert. Just thought I'd mention what I've been through just in case.....
Good luck!
Jan
P.S. Your posts are not too long--have you seen some of mine? lol Keep posting, please.
I am wondering about something you said. You mentioned having sciatic pain and numbness. Have you ever had an MRI done on any part of your back?
For the past 2 1/2 years, I've experienced numbness on my left side with some pain in my back toward the end of that time. I had MRI's done on my lumbar, thoracic and cervical spines. The MRI on my thoracic spine was just done on August 9 and it was discovered that I had 6 herniated discs in that part of my spine. That was causing the numbness, which was getting progressively worse. I had back surgery on September 12 and my symptoms have disappeared.
I'm not suggesting that you have a problem with your back, but maybe you should check this out if you haven't already done so. I was told that I had fibromyalgia and periphernal neuropathy. I don't believe I ever had fibro and all my symptoms of PN are gone.
I still have RLS, but instead of the back surgery making mine worse, I'm actually better. Never will be cured--mine is primary. But, so far, at least, I'm better.
I'm not giving medical advice here---I'm no expert. Just thought I'd mention what I've been through just in case.....
Good luck!
Jan
P.S. Your posts are not too long--have you seen some of mine? lol Keep posting, please.
No one is alone who had friends.
Hi Jan,
I soooo glad that your surgery has improved your symptoms! Ya know, it was your post not too long ago, in which you suggested that not all of our symptoms are necessarily caused by RLS, that prompted me to accept a referral by my PCP to an orthopedic specialist. I had that referral sitting on my desk at home for a few weeks, and when my pain started to worsen, I started to think about your experience and successful outcome, and I made the appointment. I saw the orthopedic dr on the 2nd of this month, and had a lumbar MRI last Friday. I'm waiting for the results of the imaging, and will in the meantime continue with the meds I'm taking. Jan, thanks for caring, and for mentioning your experience and successful outcome once again. I guess that's how this forum works to improve our lives...by sharing our successes (as well as our setbacks) with others. If my lumbar MRI comes back negative, and if the recent remission of my pain/numbness comes to an end, I'll ask for MRI's of my thoracic and possibly cervical spine. Have a great day. ---Andy
I soooo glad that your surgery has improved your symptoms! Ya know, it was your post not too long ago, in which you suggested that not all of our symptoms are necessarily caused by RLS, that prompted me to accept a referral by my PCP to an orthopedic specialist. I had that referral sitting on my desk at home for a few weeks, and when my pain started to worsen, I started to think about your experience and successful outcome, and I made the appointment. I saw the orthopedic dr on the 2nd of this month, and had a lumbar MRI last Friday. I'm waiting for the results of the imaging, and will in the meantime continue with the meds I'm taking. Jan, thanks for caring, and for mentioning your experience and successful outcome once again. I guess that's how this forum works to improve our lives...by sharing our successes (as well as our setbacks) with others. If my lumbar MRI comes back negative, and if the recent remission of my pain/numbness comes to an end, I'll ask for MRI's of my thoracic and possibly cervical spine. Have a great day. ---Andy
You made my day, Andy! Yes, that's the way this forum works---we all help each other. That's why I've been here so long.
I'm glad you are getting your back checked out. Hopefully, everything will be fine. But, just in case...... And, I'm glad you are going to ask for an MRI of your thoracic spine. It's unusual to have herniated discs there, so I don't think it's common for docs to do MRI's on that part of your back.
BTW, I went to a neuro surgeon for the surgery. I hear that neuro surgeons or spine specialists are the best surgeons. Just another thought.....
You have a good day, too!
Jan
I'm glad you are getting your back checked out. Hopefully, everything will be fine. But, just in case...... And, I'm glad you are going to ask for an MRI of your thoracic spine. It's unusual to have herniated discs there, so I don't think it's common for docs to do MRI's on that part of your back.
BTW, I went to a neuro surgeon for the surgery. I hear that neuro surgeons or spine specialists are the best surgeons. Just another thought.....
You have a good day, too!
Jan
No one is alone who had friends.
Hi again Jan,
I agree with you about neurosurgeons being in a better position to assess and treat spinal conditions...If surgery was necessary I would insist that a neurosurgeon perform it. One of the reasons I put off seeing the orthopedist? was because the referral from my PCP came as a surprise to me...I couldn't quite figure out how an orthopedic doc could help. But the referral was already approved, and I have a growing confidence in my primary care doctor being genuinely interested in helping me...so I trusted whatever reasoning he had for the referral, and I also wanted to demonstrate to him that I would comply with his treatment options, (as long as they weren't completely illogical or possibly harmful to me). Take care. ---Andy
I agree with you about neurosurgeons being in a better position to assess and treat spinal conditions...If surgery was necessary I would insist that a neurosurgeon perform it. One of the reasons I put off seeing the orthopedist? was because the referral from my PCP came as a surprise to me...I couldn't quite figure out how an orthopedic doc could help. But the referral was already approved, and I have a growing confidence in my primary care doctor being genuinely interested in helping me...so I trusted whatever reasoning he had for the referral, and I also wanted to demonstrate to him that I would comply with his treatment options, (as long as they weren't completely illogical or possibly harmful to me). Take care. ---Andy
ViewsAskew wrote:Yes, the anti-nausea meds can worsen RLS. There is one that doesn't, can't remember the name.
The nausea can go away within a few weeks. Also, you can try splitting the dose - take 1/2 of it at, say 8 PM and the other half at, say 10 PM. Also try less and go up more slowly. Many docs have people go up too fast and to too high an amount. We all differ regarding what helps. Some people need very, very little of it. My first doc had me go up way too fast and told me to get to .50 of Mirapex. Turned out that .125 was all I needed at first.
My legs don't feel restless but they twitch and that wakes me up.
I felt ok after a while on 1 mg but over that I kept having side effects. I tried splitting my dose with no help but maybe I took the pills too close together. My problem is I don’t know how long the drugs last in the system. I am afraid if I take the pills too soon they will have worn off by the time I go to sleep. I took requip at 2 mgs for over a year and things improved but I still felt a little nauseous and felt like I was dying. The problem is even at 2 mgs I still woke up even with a cpap machine.
I also accidentally over dosed on requip because the strength of the pills had changed and I didn't know it. It thought I was still taking .5 mgs but they had been increased to 2 mgs because I had been on 4X.5mgs for so long. Even so my legs still seemed to twitch. The 8mgs eventually caused me to end up in the hospital.
I am now taking 1 mg with no side effects and it helps me but my legs I still wake me up.
I have an appointment at Yale in January.
Mirapex may be the answer.
Thanks
James Briggs
flamestar:
My legs don't feel restless but they twitch and that wakes me up.
I felt ok after a while on 1 mg but over that I kept having side effects. I tried splitting my dose with no help but maybe I took the pills too close together. My problem is I don’t know how long the drugs last in the system. I am afraid if I take the pills too soon they will have worn off by the time I go to sleep.
Regarding how long the Requip is potent in your system, below is a quote from the doctor at rlshelp.org (page 63) said to a somewhat similar patient:
Requip should start being effective within 1-3 hours (about 1 hour for most) after it is taken. The dose usually lasts for 6-8 hours. It is not clear why taking 1 mg should not relieve the RLS better than .5 mg as this is the case for almost all other patients. Sometimes increasing from .5 mg to 1 mg may cause more insomnia but the RLS should be better.
You might do better by taking .5 mg 2-3 hours before bedtime then another .5 mg just before going to bed. It is also very likely that with time ( a week or so) the insomnia side effects may dissipate.
That is tough that you can't handle taking more Requip as a 2nd small dose right before bed to help the PLMD. Maybe you can eventually find one of the few nausea meds to help you take a larger dose?
Hope you can find the right timing and medication combination.
requip sideeffect for me
i took requip for 4 months RLS may have gotten better but side effects overwhelmed any benefit.
i had severe bloating of the large and small intestines, pain associated with it, frequent burping about 2 to 8 times per minute while awake, gas, constant constipation, weight gain.
i had severe bloating of the large and small intestines, pain associated with it, frequent burping about 2 to 8 times per minute while awake, gas, constant constipation, weight gain.