Requip & pain

[oaklander]

Has anyone out there experienced pains with any drugs they've used for RLS? A few months ago I started experiencing pains everywhere--feet, ankles, side of one hand, knees, hip, etc. It was while I was still just taking only Restoril for RLS. When I switched to Sinemet, the pains continued (most days, late afternoons and evenings, and middle of the night). But they got much worse when I started Requip, or so it seems ?, since they weren't happening every day. And no one knows the cause. There's no way to know for sure if any of the RLS drugs have been causing the pain, since there are so many variables and the pains haven't been happening literally every day.

I'm now trying to get off Requip, hoping that's the cause, and try Neurontin only. My regular MD and neurologist both think Requip might be causing the pains, but they can't know unless I get off of it--ideally get off and back on a couple times to eliminate other causes. But I don't have the patience for that, so I'm just launching in to Neurontin and hoping. (I saw a Rheumatoid Specialist, also, and I'm clear there). Interestingly, the notes on Requip mention that a small percentage of people using the drug do experience pain.

I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had pains like these. When they hit, I can hardly move. I'm like an ancient person, in agony. I'm 46 and look and feel 146 when I'm feeling this pain. My husband is in disbelief watching me deal with this, and the way my body reacts. Blood work shows extremely high levels of inflammation, but the docs still don't know where all this is coming from.

[ViewsAskew]

Oaklander, have you even had pain with your RLS? Many people have painful RLS to start with. But if you didn't before the meds, it would seem to be a connection. Wonder if anyone else here with the painful RLS would mention if it's always hurt or started hurting at some point.

I immediately thought of fibro when I read your post. Maybe some of the other fibro people will join in.

I've not gotten along with my share of RLS drugs, but never had pain like that. I think that Jumpy Owl was having some neuropathy that went away when he lowered his dose of Mirapex (but I could be remembering wrong). Jumpy, if you're out there, is this right?

Sound like the docs are working with you, though. That is good, even though it must be horrible to be going through this.

Ann

[wwendyww]

I have started experiencing pain in my knees about a month ago, while taking various combinations of restoril and flexoril. The pain is much worse and chronic now-I thought the pain was from the intense work out our leg muscles get all night and the stress on the joints from the constant flexing.
I want to ask my doc for vicodin to take as soon as I get home from work and amphetimines to take as soon as I get up in the morning!

[desertlegs]

I am not taking requip, but am recently on Mirapex and while the jumping legs have stopped, the pain has increased. I used to just get days here and there of this very deep sort of bone pain in my legs and infrequently in my arms. Now, I will wake up with the pain at it will stay with me most of the morning. Sometimes it will wake me up at night.... Trying to decide what is worse, pain or jumping

[oaklander]

It's been a while since I was on this site. Since then, I discovered the pain I thought was due to Requip, or some RLS drug, was really due to an autoimmune disorder. Since then, I've had to take pain meds for the autoimmune, and switch RLS meds. But my body is so sensitive to drugs, I have to be careful what I take. Now I'm on 1800 mg or so (may go higher) of Neurontin for the RLS, and still need to supplement that with a little Requip or some advil (or both) for stiffness and pain that is probably a combination of RLS and Reactive Arthritis. Like so many people who post messages on here, I'm kinda of a mess. While my husband sleeps soundly in the next room, it's 4 a.m. and I'm waiting for the advil and Requip to kick in. I think it's beginning to, so I can go back to bed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I love being asleep when I'm a total zombie. (My mother-in-law is 93 and never been sick in her life, so her suggestion to me is "Just don't think about it!" Oh, to be a healthy person with no medical conditions! Wouldn't life be grand?!) OK, time to slither back to bed and hope for dreamland to come upon me. If only....

[rylaff]

I had pain in my legs before starting requip. My pain really has actually gotten a little better since starting the requip. I attribute my pain to the rls itself.

[Kris]

It very well could be the RLS itself. I have terrible pain with mine - like broken bone kind of pain. Or if you've ever had really bad shin splints and mashed on your shins - that kind of pain - its a lot like that except you don't have to do the mashing, all you have to do is be still.

My RLS just up and changed one day (after a lot of time in a rocker boot) and I thought I had bone cancer or something.

[jrowley]

Mirapex worsened my already rls pain when I took it and it caused horrible innsomia Which if you look pain is one of the side effects of the dopamine agents.

Mirapex Oral
Back to Drug Overview
Does this medication have side effects?

The following side effects are associated with Mirapex Oral:

Common side effects:
Blood Pressure Drop Upon Standing Severe
Drowsiness Severe
Hallucination Severe
Abnormal Trouble Sleeping Severe
Voluntary Movement Difficulty Severe
Feel Like Throwing Up Severe
Feeling Weak Severe
Dry Mouth Less Severe
Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe


Infrequent side effects:
Double Vision Severe
Problems with Eyesight Severe
Pneumonia Severe
Joint Pain Severe
Muscle Weakness Severe
Muscle Pain Severe
Loss of Memory Severe
Fever Severe
A Feeling of Restlessness with Inability to Sit Still Severe
Visible Water Retention Severe
Difficulty Swallowing Severe
Frequent Urination Severe
Confused Severe
Paranoia Severe
Nightmares Less Severe
Inflammation of the Nose Less Severe
Inability to have an Erection Less Severe
Excessive Sweating Less Severe
Rash Less Severe
Loss of Appetite Less Severe
Weight Loss Less Severe
Altered Interest in Having Sexual Intercourse Less Severe


Rare side effects:
Urinary Tract Infection Severe
Dizzy Severe
Fluid Retention in the Legs, Feet, Arms or Hands Severe
Trouble Breathing Severe
Chest Pain Severe
Problems with Bladder Control Severe
Delusions Severe

I would suggest calling your doctor and trying something different