Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Is RLS a continuously degenerative disease in every case? I started out with a low dose of 300mg of gabapentin daily. I gradually progressed to 3,000mg of gabapentin and 40mg of oxycodone daily. Does this progression ever level out or is this progression endless? I'm just getting a little concerned about this degeneration. I keep thinking it will level out but it never does.

RLS isn't a matter of degeneration in the classical sense. However, there is evidence that RLS becomes more severe with age.

As for your increasing gabapentin dose, Gabapentin isn't reliable adsorbed by the intestinal tract. A dose that works one day may not work at all the next. That is the reason why gabapentin enacarbin (Horizant) was developed and why some people take pregabalin (Lyrica) instead.

As for your oxycodone, most RLS patients take the same opioid dose for years, but a few develop tolerance to the med and have to take occasional two or three day holidays to return to their previous tolerance level. Also, oxycodone has a short half life compared to the opioids used by many RLS experts, methadone and buprenorphine. These later opioids are effective for over 24 hrs.

Yes, becoming more severe is what I was thinking. Degeneration is defined as "the process by which something gets worse" so I don't know why RLS isn't classified as a degenerative disease. I went a weekend with diminished oxy dosage due to a power outage (pharmacy was closed) and it was real tough. My worse day was 5mm. I'm not looking to do that again. I'm trying to reduce dosage though. I can do that.