RLS patch

Rubyslipper · Post by **Rubyslipper** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:07 pm

Had a question posed to me and I am sending it on to all of you out there. Has anyone tried the new RLS patch? I think it is called the Neuropatch. Not sure about that. Just wondered if it was working and if you are using it, why you went to it.

SquirmingSusan · Post by **SquirmingSusan** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:59 pm

I think it's "Neupro" and it's made with rotigotine, another Parkinson's drug. They don't have a dosage yet for RLS, but people are using it anyway. I subscribe to the Yahoo RLS list and have heard about various people trying it. Some people have bad nausea and can't tolerate it, and others think it's great. I guess just like the other dopamine agonists. It's not supposed to have the problems with augmentation, though, because it's delivered 24 hours a day.

I'm hoping to try it someday. I don't think I've heard that anyone has tried it in this message board. Maybe it works so well that the people who use it won't find their way in here! We can hope.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:50 am

I'm guessing there is no generic patch or anything and its insanely expensive ?

jan3213 · Post by **jan3213** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:50 am

Ruby, my neurologist told me about the patch during my last appointment with her. She said if Mirapex quit doing the job for me (she just increased my dose from 2 mg. to 2.5 mg.), that we could try the patch. I didn't even ask the name of it and don't know any other details except that it's a Parkinson's med and my neuro said there seems to be a lot of success for RLS. So, I may go on it one of these days. I doubt if it's avialable in generic form yet, since it's apparently pretty new.

Jan

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:32 am

yeah, I've heard it's pricey. And, since it's still in testing for RLS (but close to being done in trials), some insurance formularys won't cover it. Ouch.

Aiken · Post by **Aiken** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:55 am

The other issue with patches is that many people find their skin is irritated by them. When it comes to a new med like this, which is bound to be expensive, you definitely want to see if you can get a sample before you shell out for 90 days' worth on your drug plan.

chefws · Post by **chefws** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:33 am

I was sent to Duke University due to the fact that the local hospital, my PCP and sleep specialist have ruled out all DA's for me. After Mirapex sent me to the hospital with a really bad reaction, they finally listened. At Duke, I was sent to the wrong department after waiting a month and a half, lol. I has to tell them to give me the Neupro due to the lack of willingness to prescribe anything else.
I have been using it for a month. It has stopped the symptoms, but is causing increased leg pain. Again, like with the Mirapex, it feels like my calf muscles are grinding all night. It causes me to be sleepy all day, and is even worse when I am at work in the kitchen; the heat of standing over stoves makes it put out more medicine. There are times when I get off of work that I have to pull off of the highway to take a little snooze. As long as I am working and staying active, it isn't a problem, but as soon as I stop, I want to take a nap.
I am having site reactions to it, ie: Square patches of red, irritated skin that will stay there for up to 24 hours.
My sleep isn't much better, averaging 3-5 hours per night. The leg pain is affecting my work because I have to stand for 10-12 hours during my shift.
As with all medications, this may work for some, but I don't feel it is what I need due to the complications, but right now I don't have a choice.
On a side note, the Neurologists' at Duke didn't know Permax had been pulled from the market, and wasn't sure what Neupro was, rofl. OMG, I'm starting to hate doctors. This makes my 5 DA. My PCP was overheard saying that "These RLSers" want to become drug addicts just to get a little sleep.

SquirmingSusan · Post by **SquirmingSusan** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:16 pm

My PCP was overheard saying that "These RLSers" want to become drug addicts just to get a little sleep.

Arghhhhh!!!! Doctors.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:19 pm

chefws wrote:I was sent to Duke University due to the fact that the local hospital, my PCP and sleep specialist have ruled out all DA's for me. After Mirapex sent me to the hospital with a really bad reaction, they finally listened. At Duke, I was sent to the wrong department after waiting a month and a half, lol. I has to tell them to give me the Neupro due to the lack of willingness to prescribe anything else.
I have been using it for a month. It has stopped the symptoms, but is causing increased leg pain. Again, like with the Mirapex, it feels like my calf muscles are grinding all night. It causes me to be sleepy all day, and is even worse when I am at work in the kitchen; the heat of standing over stoves makes it put out more medicine. There are times when I get off of work that I have to pull off of the highway to take a little snooze. As long as I am working and staying active, it isn't a problem, but as soon as I stop, I want to take a nap.
I am having site reactions to it, ie: Square patches of red, irritated skin that will stay there for up to 24 hours.
My sleep isn't much better, averaging 3-5 hours per night. The leg pain is affecting my work because I have to stand for 10-12 hours during my shift.
As with all medications, this may work for some, but I don't feel it is what I need due to the complications, but right now I don't have a choice.
On a side note, the Neurologists' at Duke didn't know Permax had been pulled from the market, and wasn't sure what Neupro was, rofl. OMG, I'm starting to hate doctors. This makes my 5 DA. My PCP was overheard saying that "These RLSers" want to become drug addicts just to get a little sleep.

I started to pick something specific to quote, but I wanted to quote everything! Chef, you sound like you're taking this pretty well, but...man! What a story! <shakes head in empathetic horror and resignation>

Post by **Polar Bear** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:27 pm

Hi chef, your pcp was pretty rude, actually beyond rude, inconsiderate, insulting, no empathy, could do with some 'people training'. Actually if he actually needed training to deal with people and chronic conditions, then he probably should just find a corner/lab somewhere and forget about working with the public!!

Aiken · Post by **Aiken** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:30 am

Time to switch PCPs.

chefws · Post by **chefws** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:23 am

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I picked up my medical records from my PCP today. There was no mention of the repeated requests to see a specialist, but did say that my attitude toward wanting oxycodone (because so far that is what has worked for me) was cavalier.
At the time I told him I didn't mind being dependent on a drug that was working for me. He wrote down that I said I wouldn't mind being ADDICTED!!! And for any referral, this will be boldly notated.
So now the doctor I have been seeing for 10+ years has labeled me a drug seeker. Bast***.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:41 am

I am speechless.

Neco · Post by **Neco** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:08 am

All I can say is..

Medical/Ethics Board COMPLAINT. Hope you don't have to work out some wack-assery way of getting in to see Dr.B to get some credability to your record.

I would definitely carry around te algorithm as well as all documented history of your bad reactions to DA's.. If a doctor did that to me I'd be so pissed, would call the local news or something

Post by **Polar Bear** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:37 am

Chef, on perhaps another thread about antidepressants, I have catalogued my visit to my GP regarding needing sleeping meds. Yesterday he actually said to me that 'there was a difference between addiction and dependency and that if my condition merited sleeping meds and my becoming dependent, then it was OK cos it came down to quality of life'
Aren't I lucky in that my doc is understanding! I wish you the same.

Betty