Withdrawal

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brandy
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Withdrawal

Post by brandy »

I have no idea if this question will make sense, but I'll give it a shot. When I augmented on Requip, I was switched to Mirapex and given Ultram to help with the "in-between" time. Last week my doctor added Neurontin in my cocktail because I was still having bad PLMS. So, that's 1 mg Mirapex, now at 900 mg Neurontin (can go up to 1200), and I have been on about 200 mg/day Ultram. The doctor mentioned that I might could come down off of one of my other drugs if the Neurontin helps and since Ultram is the only one with addictive potential, I decided to drop that one. On Tuesday I tried to taper off too fast and had withdrawal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, etc), so I took the Ultram and decided to try to taper off more slowly. Yesterday I took 100 mg. I woke up with symptoms this morning. It scared me to death because this is how my Requip augmentation started. What do you think is happening and that I should do? Go back to 200 mg Ultram? Wait and see? Could I be augmenting with the Mirapex? I'm feeling very nervous because my Requip augmentation experience was hell. Thanks for your help and reading this very long post.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

ctravel12
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withdrawal

Post by ctravel12 »

Brandy, I have never taken mirapex, but know someone on this board will answer you. I wish I could take the pain away for you. You have certainly been there for me. I too took Requip; however am weaning myself off of as I do not like the side effects. I hope that you are feeling better.
Charlene
Taking one day at a time

brandy
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Post by brandy »

Thanks for the positive thoughts, Charlene. You are a dear. I'm glad you are part of our family.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

FidgetBoy
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Post by FidgetBoy »

Brandy- Sorry you're going through such a tough time... I can't remember your med history... how long were you on Requip and at what dose? A couple things could be going on: 1) you could be augmenting again. That's what happened to me! I switched from requip to mirapex and while my augmentation wasn't as bad, it was just as painful. 2) your mirapex dose may not be right. Ann has a thread on this but I think there is a ratio you're supposed to use when converting from requip to mirapex (and vice versa). 3:1 I think? 3) When you come off narcotics too quick, you will always have pretty nasty RLS symptoms. A general rule of thumb with narcotics that I use in my patients at the hospital is to never cut your dose by more then 20-25%. So if you're on 200 mg, I would be hesitant to drop by more then 25-50 mg at a time. The other thing I was wondering was this... and bear with me because this is a stretch, but when someone is potentially experiencing augmentation from DAs, narcotics would theoretically "mask" those symptoms. So- I wonder sometimes if worsening symptoms during a "narcotic wean" may in fact be the augmentation "poking through" the lack of narcotic. Does this make sense? It sounds like you'll have to play around with your mirapex dosing and slow your tramadol taper to figure the above out. Keep your chin up!
Josh

cornelia

Post by cornelia »

Brandy, I stopped cold turkey on about 65 mg Tramadol twice (of course, much less than you are on) and I went through 3 horrible days of cold sweats, deep depression and vertigo. After that, everything was fine again.

I read in PubMed that researchers Early and Allen have written about augmentation in Tramadol. Don't know what is in it, as no abstract is available. Interesting.

Corrie

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jrowley
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Post by jrowley »

Well i took mirepex and had horrible worsening of my rls/plms so could be that one. I also took requip with no sucess and took neurotin. Of the three mirepex gave me the worse troubles in making my rls much worse. And since you have experienced agumentation with requip and requip and mirepex are simular I would have to say that the mirepex is probably your issues. But the best thing for you to do is contact your doctor and see what he has to say. I cant beleive he would allow you to choose which one to get rid of and I am surprised he has given you so many without seeing first if one would work on its own first. Good luck
Jan :roll: Can't wait to sleep!

tazzer
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Post by tazzer »

by no means am i a dr., but i could go without the sinemet for my rls and just take the pain meds, because the sinemet by itself does nothing. i take occasional holidays from my sinemet to keep the augmentation at bay and found just taking the pain pills works just fine.
just throwin in my 2 cents.


dee
I feel like a science project!!!

“The syndrome is so common that it should be known to every physician.”
Dr Karl Ekbom, 1945

brandy
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Post by brandy »

Wow! Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to help me figure out my problems. Especially as I know that everyone is dealing with issues of their own. Josh, how can I figure out if I am augmenting, or if the Ultram is just a necessary component of my cocktail? Maybe try weaning off of the Mirapex? I certainly don't want to be taking anything I don't have to or anything that could be making it worse. Perhaps I could try to wean off of the Mirapex and see if I'm okay without that. I don't know what the best option is at this point. I am in the process of changing my insurance, so can't really do anything about seeing a specialist until that gets squared away. Does anyone know the rule about tapering off of Mirapex? With Requip, I augmented so badly that Dr. B. just told me to quit flat out, which I did. Don't know if I should do that with Mirapex. The problem is DA augmentation is pretty rare and I'm just not sure that my PCP will know what to do with me.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

FidgetBoy
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Post by FidgetBoy »

Usually when I'm trying to figure out which drug is causing what, I start with the most likely culprit. Since you augmented with the other DA, I would start with your mirapex. Call your doctor and see if you can start weaning off the mirapex... is the tramadol helping at all at this point? You may need a "real" narcotic during the wean. You may find out after you get off the mirapex that your symptoms become much improved... but just so you're aware, I didn't feel right for nearly a month after I stopped mirapex.

ps..Just so you don't feel alone during this period, Brandy, alot of us have gone through exactly what you are going through now. You'll get through this!
Josh

brandy
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Post by brandy »

Josh, you're an angel. Thanks.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

jan3213
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Post by jan3213 »

Brandy

I wanted to get off of Mirapex---tried to, but had a horrible time. Then, my current situation cropped up and getting off Mirapex is definitely on the back burner for at least six months or longer. However, the cocktail of 2 mg. Mirapex and .5 mg. Clonazepam is working, thankfully.

I do know, as several have said, that quite a few people have gone off of Mirapex and, after some pretty bad days, are apparently just fine. I wish you the very, very best. I hope that you find something that can help you through all of this. I think anyone who tries this is very, very brave!

So, here's to a very brave young woman. I wish you peaceful rest, soon!

Love
jan
No one is alone who had friends.

ViewsAskew
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Post by ViewsAskew »

Brandy, you've been on the Mirapex a short time, yes? I would think you should be able to stop it pretty quickly if you want to test to see if that is what is the problem. How much are you taking? You could also write Dr B again :) and ask what he suggests. You've been so strong through this and got through the Rquip withdrawal without anything; I'm just guessing that this wouldn't be as bad, because you weren't on it that long and haven't yet augmented to the degree you did with Requip.

Per the augmentation being rare - no one really knows. Estimates are about 30% - but there are NO studies on it! People like Josh and me have rates of 100%! Every DA we tried, we augmented. Other people, like one of our new members, has been on Mirapex for over 8 years with no problems until now. I guess my point is that you are you. Augmentation may not be rare for you. And you need to feel better.

Your situation illustrates that RLS that there is no one treatment and that we are guinea pigs at least until we find the combo that works.
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.

ctravel12
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withdrawal

Post by ctravel12 »

I was on Requip and wanted to quit it. I saw a Neurologist last week and is weaning me off of Requip. The first three days he is having me take .5mg of Requip (I used to take 1mg in two doses) and the last three days to take .25 mg of requip. I have been taking clonazapam .5mg along with the requip. I have two more days of the requip and will then be on .5mg of clonazapam. He also suggested that I take the sleeping pill until I see him which wil be in October. The sleeping pill takes about a week to get into my system (I started the sleeping pill last Monday) so hopefully it will take effect tonight. I have been sleeping, still not through the night but has been better. I know when I wake up in the am my legs are restless (thank goodness not painful) and I just have to get up or if it is too early I take a couple of motrins and go back to sleep. With getting off of Requip has been a trip this past weekend. Ann thanks for givin me the heads up of what to expect. I know it will get better, how soon know one really knows. Unless someone walks in your shoes, they do not know what we are going throughl.
Brandy, I hope that you are doing better. You and Ann were a help to me when you read that I was quitting requip. If you need any help at all, just holler and I will be there for you. All I can say, and am sure all will agree, is that RLS REALLY SUCKS.
Charlene
Taking one day at a time

brandy
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Post by brandy »

Here, here, Charlene! It totally sucks! The good news is that I haven't taken Mirapex in about 3 days and I'm fine. The first night was an accident. Then, when I read Josh's post and I noticed I felt fine the next day, I decided just to see what happened. And I'm fine. It seems that I was augmenting and that with Neurontin and Ultram, I'm fine. I'm so grateful that coming off of the Mirapex wasn't the hell that coming off of the Requip was. I guess with the dosage and the limited time I was on it, I'm good to go. Thanks so much, everyone, for your help. I honestly don't know what I would do without this family.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer

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jrowley
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Post by jrowley »

Glad to hear your doing ok Brandy. When I quit my meds i just quit for me it doesnt matter if i wean myself or not. Usually the rls gets worse for about a week then its gone. Welcome to the world of rls and yes it sucks really bad
Jan :roll: Can't wait to sleep!

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