Mirapex to gabapentin

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Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

went to doc to explain augmentation and needing to taper off mirapex. He wouldn't even consider pain killers above otc. He decided to give me gabapentin. Basically gave me 100 x 100 mg caps to take as needed. I have Tylenol 3. Was going to try that for mirapex withdrawal. Was thinking of just going cold turkey on mirapex just to get it over wth. Thoughts on what I can do. Weed is an option doesn't seem to help allot. I'm trying magnesium. Iron and I quit coffee Also I workout regularly. I'm doing all the right things except sleep. I do go to bed early but legs keep me awake. Thoughts?

ViewsAskew
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Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by ViewsAskew »

I have to be honest. It might work...it might not.

In the lightest cases, people are through the worst in 4-5 days. In the tougher cases, it takes at least 2 weeks to get through the worst, sometimes 3.

I tried three times. I bailed within 5 days each time. I had a very mild opioid from dental surgery the third time. But, it was gone by Day 3. It was enough to prove to me, though, that opioids would work if I had them. It took me 4-6 more months to find a doctor who would help me. In the end, it took me about 3 weeks to get through it and I needed 10 mg of methadone.

So, I'm the example of the tough case. How do we know which type we'll be? I haven't a clue. Maybe length of time augmented is a factor, but many of us do not really know. The first time our docs increased our meds because they weren't enough was likely when augmentation started. For some of us, that was years ago.

Several people here have timed it so they were doing it during a vacation. For example, if you have time off during the holiday season.

If you try it, you also have to know if you can go cold turkey or not. If you are taking 1 mg or higher, you should reduce it by 50% every 3 days until you are at .5 mg, then you can stop it - but PLEASE check to make sure I'm right. There is a potential problem - DAWS, dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome - when stopping the drug - it can cause permanent problems. It primarily applies to Parkinson's patients, but some WED/RLS patients have also had it happen. You can take the gabapentin to get used to it at that time. When you stop the pramipexole, start using the opioids. You likely won't sleep much for the first few days. I slept 10 minutes here and there when I tried it without a strong opioid.

Per smoking marijuana, some people seem to feel that different strains work better than others. We've talked about it - you can try the search feature to see if you can find the conversations.

Last, kratom may be of help. Again, try the search feature. It is NOT a prescription drug which is both good and bad. You can order it (and members have shared their preferences for type and vendor) in most states in the US, but not all, so no script is needed. But, because it's not a controlled substance, you don't know about quality or dosage from order to order. That seems not to be a big problem for many people here, but it's important to factor into your decision.
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.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

I'm taking 1.5 per day. I've taken my first gaba about 2 hours ago and already decided to add .5 mirapex now and . 5 at bedtime. I'll reduce that in three days like you said or as I feel ready but no more than 3 days. Going to be fun . I'm interested in this Kratom. I've Googled it. Is it easy to get in Canada or across the boarder. I'm considering my dentist friend for something stronger to get me off through this.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Made it through first night. Took Tylenol 3ehich my gf had. I ended up taking .5mg ofirapex which is down from 1.5 . Did I sleep no. Took zopiclone as well but still paced all night. See how tonight goes. I'll stick to codeine my gaba and mirapex .5 as late as I can get. Might go to outpatient See if I can get anything stronger

ViewsAskew
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Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by ViewsAskew »

Be careful how you present yourself if you go to outpatient. They may think you're drug seeking. Well, you sort of are, but not in THAT way! If you have a copy of the paper that Buchfuhrer wrote (maybe in Beth's signature), you might take it with you and show it to the doctor.

Hope it gets better soon.
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.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Thanks I'll print that off for them . See how it goes tonight.

ViewsAskew
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Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by ViewsAskew »

Just reading your posts reminds me of the horror of stopping! It was not a fun time....

I do hope you get some sleep.
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.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Got through last night. Got Ativan from outpatient Didn't do much took zopiclone. It put me out for awhile. Days are getting better. Just mild mostly. I just keep moving. Keep popping Tylenol 3. Going to take my gabapentin in one dose at 5 pm not spread out as ordered. So 300 tonight merry Christmas everybody

Polar Bear
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Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Polar Bear »

Merry Christmas Kupkee - good luck tonight.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Merry Christmas I think it's going to be a rough one

ViewsAskew
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Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by ViewsAskew »

Yeah, Ativan isn't likely to help much. DO be careful with it long term. I used a similar (same family) drug when I was trying to stop pramipexole. I ended up being one of the 50% who have a TERRIBLE time stopping benzos. I didn't use it for that long, but it took me 7 months of miserable withdrawals to get off of it. I suggest not taking it for more than 2-3 weeks without stopping for a few days. Some people - about 50% have no trouble stopping. But, the other 50%? It's a nightmare.

Is it Day 3? Hang in there. If you can make it to Day 6 or 7, you'll know if you're going to get through it quickly. If you don't see improvement by then, it could happen anytime or up to 2 more weeks. But, it DOES get better. Truly.
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.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Thanks. He only gave me ten Ativan. Just to get me through. He's going to push a referral to the sleep disorder doc Hopefully soon what about upping gabapentin . 100 mg 3 times a day doesn't do sh**

Polar Bear
Moderator
Posts: 8799
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Polar Bear »

I hear your positivity..... good luck, I really hope you can keep going.
Betty
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation

ViewsAskew
Moderator
Posts: 16571
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:37 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by ViewsAskew »

Kupkee wrote:Thanks. He only gave me ten Ativan. Just to get me through. He's going to push a referral to the sleep disorder doc Hopefully soon what about upping gabapentin . 100 mg 3 times a day doesn't do sh**


Glad to hear that.

Yeah, while some people find that a low dose of gabapentin does work, you can take up to 2700 mg a day! So, 300 mg daily is the lowest dose.

That said, the specialists who deal with augmentation a lot pretty much say that gabapentin isn't likely to help you when you withdraw from a dopamine agonist. It just can't cover for the extra symptoms - only opioids do. So, I'm not sure it's going to do anything for now. In a few days or weeks, hopefully that will be different.

And, I hope you get a neurologist or sleep doc who understands WED, augmentation, and what you are going through.
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.

Kupkee
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:13 am

Re: Mirapex to gabapentin

Post by Kupkee »

Third night now with no mirapex. Best night yet. I did smoke some weed which doesn't help symptoms but puts me to sleep. I took 800 mg gabapentin. Not sure if it helped. But I did better last night. Feeling like legs are getting better in the day time. I think the worst is over. I will never use mirapex again.

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