Use this section to discuss your experiences with prescription drugs, iron injections, and other medical interventions that involve the introduction of a drug or medicine into the body. Discuss side effects, successes, failures, published research, information about drug trials, and information about new medications being developed.
Important: Posts and information in this section are based on personal experiences and recommendations; they should not be considered a substitute for the advice of a healthcare provider.
As most of you know, I have a questionable history of narcotic addiction, and I've pretty much been off my Vicodin for a week now. Out of the blue my Dr's office called and said "we have a sample of a new drug we want you to try", so I'm like....great, probably another DA or that other new sleep aid that I couldn't take anyway cause I'm on Luvox.
It was a sample pack for Mirapex.. I begrungingly decided to take it to at least look like I was still "trying". I just don't understand why it's being offered to me now.. In the past my doctor refused to prescribe it, and then I made a point of going over the whole fact that I failed two DA's already and really shouldn't be put on any others anyway.
In a way I hope I augment pretty bad, so I can march in there tomorrow (I have an appt.) and claim I haven't slept all night and try to get at least some Tramadol or something I can -handle- having.. But then I'm afraid I'll be left with nothing but my Oxazepam again....blah
Well, I get your point, but augmenting pretty bad? Be careful what you ask!!!!! My second DA was Sinemet. I augmented for about 30-36 straight hours - non-stop, unable to sit, PLMs while standing (knocking my feet out from under me), etc. I don't want you, or anyone else, to ever go through that!
Who knows? Maybe it will work for some weird reason. They probably got sample packs because it was recently approved. Now, if they would only approve some narcotics. . .
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.
Zach please do not hope for augmenting. I have been down that road and I know other members have been too. It is a road that I do not want to visit again no matter what. What Ann said is so true. I hope all goes well for you.
Well, yeah if for some weird reason it works for me, then that is great. On the other hand it just gives me more ammunition to prove my point to my doc that I'm sick of jumping through hoops and if I can't have Vicodin, to at least give me something else that I can deal with, without an issue.
I've done the exercise bit.. Requip, Sinemet, lorazepam, ambien, lunesta, going without treatment for weeks, etc..
It's just my sad situation that narcotics work for me and I have issues.. If I could sign my name on the dotted line saying "ok you can have this time released stuff, but if you ****, you can't have anything ever again" I'd do it. Give it my best effort, and be able to say at least I tried..
Hi Zach. Thanks for getting back to me in email. I hope the info I had helped you. It's important to respect the rules of the boards, so I wanted to do that portion in email.
Now, however, we could communicate here...
Since my RLS has augmented to the daytime and also to my whole body, my doc was not comfortable giving my more doses of Percocet. He and I made the decision to start MScontin, since it is actually less likely to create a high, and harder to abuse, unless you get really creative and non-compliant...
He said providers are more comfortable prescribing 30mgs/day in sustained release form, than 6-5mgs/day. I didn't know that. I said I wanted the control to take or not take the pills if I didn't need them. He said that it creates peaks and spikes of medication, which leads to drug seeking behavior.
Anyway, it's amazing how normal I feel, and the best thing is that I never think about it anymore. I don't have to space out my meds or worry about how bad my RLS wil be...
I have years of documentation and consults with specialists to back up my RLS, or I don't think they would have given this to me.
Anyway, ask for something like this or take Dr. B's book...AFTER you have failed the other drugs.
They might be willing to try this with you, let us know how it goes.
I'll have to go through my county health services to see if I can find someone willing to give me a time released narcotic.. Doc won't do it anymore.. But he did send me home with some 100mg extended release Ultram tablets.
I'm satisfied for the time being. And yes, I did augment off the Mirapex.. It took 3 or 4 (I can't remember...lol) Oxazepam to put me down last night.
Well, I told my doc that I'd read in Dr B's book that I should experiment with the opiod meds and so I did, and I was sorry and that I should have checked with him first, I realized now...but I was excited to have something else to try...
Anyway, I told him I tried a very low dose 2.5 mgs starting at 8am. and redosing when I could tell it had worn off, about 3-4 hours later. Then I would take 5mgs in the afternoon and again at night. And that the amazing thing was that I didn't have horrible symptoms at night anymore. So I thought I was on to something about the opiods acting as a pathway for the dopamine in the brain.
Well, HE suggested the MS contin, because he said all that dosing and obsessing could lead to drug seeking behavior eventually. And he said that the low dose throughout the day instead of waiting as long as you can to finally take something routine, was the thing that tipped him off to the need for something sustained release...
Now, this is after years of documentation of failed treatments other than opiods, and SEVERE AUGMENTATION with Mirepex that has never completely gone away. And daytime symptoms along with pain have been occuring this past 8 months or so...
I was blown away that he wanted me on MSContin. Seems so serious and like an old lady drug. haha (Im only 38.) So I was very leary, but it is working so great for me. I don't even have the anxiety of running out of meds or how bad is it going to be today...
Also, I go every month armed with new literature and at LEAST 2 books on RLS and all the questions I have written down for him.....I want him to see how complient I am and what non-pharmaceutical things I have added to my regimin.( like stretching, melatonin, cutting back on caffeine) I also keep a journal of my symptoms and take that along . This is all so that they know I am not just med seeking, but really have this. RLS is hard to prove and so I don't mind working harder to put their minds at ease.
I've always been willing to try all the other meds and get off the opiods and I did a sleep study too...I always ask about anything I hear about like epidural therapy and chiropractic care, just to show I not just there for the meds.
I also always take notes of our sessions. I wonder if this makes doctors less willing to talk down to you, because ever since I started doing this, my docs have all been wonderful...hmmm.
So maybe if you take this approach, you guy's docs will come to the same conclusion...
I tried the sustained release vs. instant rush argument.. His response was he simply does not want to prescribe narcotics to me any longer, even though he acknowledge that SR drugs may indeed be effective =\
Well, I guess if you have a history of narcotic abuse, I can see that they wouldn't want you go down that road again...Sinemet worked well for me at first, I loved it. But then, augmentation...bad!
So now I only use it 3 times a week or less, and it doesn't cause those problems for me. It's still great for breakthru symptoms...
Your experience is similar to mine, Zach. I augmented in about a week the first time. The second time? It was immediate asnd very long (like 36 hours). The third time (call me stupid. . .or desperate), it was mostly rebound - lasted about 6 or 7 hours. Will not try any again unless they have studied augmentation much better and can prove it won't happen.
Sorry the Mirapex caused augmentation, though. It really is not fun. Glad the Tramadol is working - hope it continues to.
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.
By the way, if the tramadol works for you, (it does nothing for my RLS) it is very easy to get over the internet. And yes it is legal. So if your doc won't even refill that, try the internet pharms. Not cheap, but under $100 bucks a month probably.
I'm pretty sure I can secure it at a relatively low cost at my local pharmacy. I've gotten 50mg tablets through them before and I don't think I even paid $30 for 100 of them.
No, but I was saying if for some reason your doctor wouldn't prescribe them, you can get them from internet sources, without a prescription...there are doctors online who will help you. But yes, you will pay extra.
