Help, no sleep for three nights!

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:50 pm

I recently went off of my vicodin because it stopped working. I am also taking requip but I am going to stop that one today for sure. My RLS is at it's worse ever. I have not been able to stop moving my legs and feet for three days since I went off of my meds! I even got up last night and put my feet under scalding hot water and that did not even help. I am to tired to go outside and walk, or let anyone see my bags and how tired I am. My doctor says I cannot have anything until the 28th because that is when my vicodin pres. would have ran out. He is going to have me try percocet, has anyone tried that one yet? And in the meantime what am I going to do?

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:09 pm

Jennfier, [teh following is edited to change my misinformation!] Percocet is stronger than Vicodin. It should work better, but waiting to start it isn't fair. Zach's idea below is a great one. . .

Also, your RLS may be so much worse because you are stopping things. He needs to give you somethign NOW to help you get through that. He's not a good (read: understanding and empathetic) doctor if he doesn't (just my opinion). Write Dr Buchfurer at www.rlshelp.org and then take his reply to your doctor. Tell him what's going on and ask what he would suggest. Maybe your doc will listen to another doc - specifically a specialist that has written a book about this.

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:07 pm

I already called his office this morning and he is not in today and the nurse told me I have to wait until next week, don't know if I can hang that long, I just tried to sleep again and woke up 5 minutes later, I have so much to do around here, ugh! Plus my ankles are killing me.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:26 pm

You can hang in - it will suck, but you will get through it. Some of us have gone days, weeks, even months with no real sleep. It's horrid and we feel like we can't go on - but somehow we do.

Since your doc isn't being very helpful or concerned at all about you, I'd really consider switching docs if I were you. I know you don't want to look like you are drug seeking, but heavens! We all deserve a doctor to listen, follow accepted protocol, and make sure we are not suffering.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:50 am

What ? Ann, Percocet has Oxycodone, there is no way that is milder than Vicodin.... This is stuff they give terminal cancer patients, or people with hard chronic pain..

I'd really suggesting holding out as long as you can - but if you actually have some Vicodin left, why not ask the doctor if you can't return it to the pharmacy to be destroyed, and then pick up the percocet while you're there ? My doctor did that the first time I tried Oxycodone and it through me for a loop and I wanted back on Vicodin instead.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:01 am

Duh! I always get Percocet and Darvocet confused in my brain. So sorry - thanks for the right info, Zach. Maybe it's the 'cet' part, lol. This has a HIGH chance of working well for RLS. I'll go edit my post, too.

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:51 am

Thanks to everyone who posted with a response and especially to you Ann for your concern. I am actually making it. I am taking Motrin for pain and after a week of no sleeping I am finally getting about 5 hours a night now. I cannot seem to rest during the day anymore though because of the RLS. So I am taking what I can get. I am not sure if I even want the script for percocet now. I would like to take something just at night. The requip stopped working and I think made it even worse after awhile. I have a family member with RLS and they take Ultram at night. Does anyone know anything about it?
Thanks,
Jennifer

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:29 am

It's used pretty successfully by several people. If you do a search on it, you'll find quite a few posts that may help you make your decision. The only possible problem is that is acts as a stimulant for some people. . .and if you take high doses, there is a small but very real chance of having seizures - it happened to two of our members. Very, very scary. BUT, as lower doses, there are few side effects.

Glad you are feeling better. Requip definitely can cause these problems (as can all dopamine agonists). If they only knew a way to tell who would have these problems to begin with. . .

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:39 am

I was one of the people who had a seizure from Ultram. I have been successfully taking it up to present day, and it looks like in my case the seizure was caused by an interaction with my Luvox, an anti-depressant/anxiety, etc. drug.

Ultram can give a low grade opiate type buzz, that does disappear as long as you maintain a certain dose (so if you only take 2 - 4 after a few days you'll feel relatively normal again). I'm allowed to take up to 8 (the daily maximum) and do so without any real problems so far. I do have minor hyperreflexia (random muscle twitching) but it's usually associated with higher doses, and / or with legitimate fatigue/tiredness. If you take a nap as you start to feel it working, it can go away sometimes.

A lot of people prefer it to stronger narcotics for many reasons, but it IS an agonist/antagonist so don't fool yourself into thinking you aren't taking an addictive medication; it is largely less addictive than traditional narcotics however.

I would try tramadol if you want, but if you're having issues with low grade narcotics I can't guarantee you'll have much success. Otherwise I'd say at least give the percocet a try if you've run out of other acceptable options.

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:43 am

Hey Zach, thanks for the info, I am trying not to take anything that will make me really sick again after taking it for awhile, I am on day 7 with no vicodin and I still have no energy and no appetite and very sick to my stomach. Is Ultram another one that will make this happen? Thanks.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:52 am

I honestly don't have any experience with cold turkey withdrawl, especially after sustained high amounts.

In theory, I would surmise that you may experience withdrawl symptoms if you were to stop it, but they may be less severe.

Also one more thing about Ultram.. It can really, really add constipation issues, but drinking plenty of water and taking a fiber supplement may help counteract that problem. Citrucel is pretty decent. I just take the orange stuff, with a small (4oz?) glass of water not even full all the way. Just mix up the dose with half the small glass or so and gulp/chug it down. Then drink some more water if necesarry to wash it down. That'll add about 20g of fiber to your diet per dose.

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:59 am

I had to deal with that when I was taking the vicodin, when and if i go on the ultram, i will be taking a very low dose. what meds are you taking?

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:25 am

Right now I only take Ultram. But I do have a bit of Oxazepam left from my last prescription. So I may take that on occasion for insomnia

desertgirl · Post by **desertgirl** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:41 am

thank you zach for taking the time to talk to me about this. i am going to give ultram a try! hope things are going will for you?

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:07 pm

Well enough, no problem.. I help when I can.

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