Requip and weight gain, anyone?

glfngrl · Post by **glfngrl** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:35 pm

Hi Everyone,

I am an old RLSer, and was a frequent poster several years ago. It is good to be back on the forums.

My question: Have any of you that are on Requip noticed a weight gain, or difficulty in trying to lose weight? I have been on Requip (.05 mg.) for about 9 months.............this is the only lifestyle change during that time, and I have gained about 10 pounds, and cannot seem to lose it, no matter how I tweak my diet and exercise patterns! I talked with my doctor (she also has RLS, and takes Requip), but she was reluctant to blame it on the Requip. I also experience daytime sleepiness when I am driving long distances, especially in the mornings. I do take one-quarter to one-half of a 5 mg. Darvocet about 7 pm, so that I can delay the Requip until about 9 pm.............surely this small an opoid dosage, at that time of night, can have no effect the next morning! Besides, this was my only medicating line of defense for about 2 years, with no ill effects whatsoever. ( I have had RLS for over 47 years, and was able to get by until about 3 years ago with exercise, diet modification, hot baths, careful attention to all medications, etc........all the RLS "tricks". At least, I thought I was getting by! Now I realize just how much sleep I was losing!)

I would appreciate input regarding this question. My e-mail is glfngrl@comcast.net, if any of you would like to respond privately.

Good luck to all of you...........you younger RLS victims are in some ways luckier than those of us who suffered many years with a no-name, no recognized, no-respect (LOL) illness. Hopefully by the time you are as old as I am (69 next week!), this gosh-awful affliction will be better understood, and a simple shot in the arm cure will be found!!!

Looking forward to once again being a part of this support group.

Jane B.

Post by **Polar Bear** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:25 pm

Hi Jane, I had heard of this before about Requip, saw it in a thread about a year ago, but haven't noticed it myself. Mind you I am 59 years old, and could hardly be described as scrawny anyway.... but the scales don't show any difference!!

glfngrl · Post by **glfngrl** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:44 pm

Thanks, Betty. I am not "scrawny", either, but had successfully managed to get rid of quite a few stress-related pounds that came about as a result of dealing with my late husband's health issues. Had no trouble maintaining the loss until the Requip. Read that one of the Mirapex s.e. was weight gain, so guess that could also be true of the Requip, since they are the same class of drugs. My doctor has said that she will concur with my upping my dose of opoids and d/cing the Requip, if that is what I prefer. I definitely do not want to up the dosage of Requip, but am also leery of upping the Darvocet. Have you tried iron injuections?

Jane

Post by **Polar Bear** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:56 pm

All of my iron tests, including ferriten levels, have been 'normal'.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:58 pm

Glad to see you posting again. And glad you have a combo that seems to be working well.

All of the dopamine agonists are associated with increasing people's desires for things. Gambling, sex, food, etc. For some reason, many people don't have an increase in any desires...others have horrible increases.

For most of the people who have mentioned weight gain on this forum, it is has been in relatively large amounts and often ongoing. I gained 50 pounds on Mirapex and just couldn't stop myself from going to the refrigerator. Well, not completely true. I'd stop myself ten times and give in on the 11th.

If you aren't noticing any compulsiveness about eating, I don't know that the Requip would be responsible. Or the opioid. Then again, I'm not a pharmacist or doctor! Maybe it's the combo of them along with the RLS that contributed. Or none of the above....

Gee, wasn't I helpful?

glfngrl · Post by **glfngrl** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:01 pm

Thanks, Betty. I am not "scrawny", either, but had successfully managed to get rid of quite a few stress-related pounds that came about as a result of dealing with my late husband's health issues. Had no trouble maintaining the loss until the Requip. Read that one of the Mirapex s.e. was weight gain, so guess that could also be true of the Requip, since they are the same class of drugs. My doctor has said that she will concur with my upping my dose of opoids and d/cing the Requip, if that is what I prefer. I definitely do not want to up the dosage of Requip, but am also leery of upping the Darvocet. Have you tried iron injuections?

Jane

glfngrl · Post by **glfngrl** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:22 pm

Ann....

Thanks! Was aware of the compulsiveness factor regarding the dopamine agonists. In trying to analyze my situation, no, I don't think I am compulsive about food.........many days when I am pleasantly occupied, I forego a formal meal. Am a fiber nut, so some of my "fixes" often suffice. It is just the slow, insidious creeping of the pounds that has me baffled, because I am actively doing those things that have always reversed the trend. The proverbial thorns in the roses of the DAs, I guess!! My SO gave me a wonderful walking golf cart for Christmas, and is going to walk the courses with me in an attempt to get more fun-type exercise into to my routine; maybe this will be a kicker!

I know that I will thoroughly enjoy these forums again, especially now that they are moderated. In the beginning years of the RLS web site, there was an "anything goes" policy. I became disgusted when there was a lot of flaming and ugliness going on regarding treatment options. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was an all out war over some people's recommendation of marijuana for relief. (Back in the dark ages of RLS recognition and treatment.)

Jane

ctravel12 · Post by **ctravel12** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:57 pm

Hi Jane and welcome to this group. I did take requip about a year ago but did not have any problems with the weight gain. Now I am on Mirapex and do not have any of the problems with weight gain, compulsive gambling etc..

I think it depends on each individual. I have heard of other people gaining the weight.

You said that you have been takiong .05 mg of requip. Is this mg working for you? I am not a dr nor have any medical background but if this mg is working I would not increase the meds. Now and then I have an onset with my rls (which I am sure that all of us have now and then) but I never increase the meds. I usuallly try and ride it out and at times it is not a pleasant ride but once the orginal meds do kick in then I am ok. This is just food for thought and before doing anything I would definitely talk to your dr.

Hey a early "Happy Birthday" as I will be the big 69 next month.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

SquirmingSusan · Post by **SquirmingSusan** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:33 pm

Hi Jane and welcome (back) to the group. I took Requip for a few weeks and it did seem to give me munchies. I get the same with the low dose Mirapex that I take. But then it seems like I like to munch late at night anyway, so I don't know how much is the DAs and how much is me. I haven't gained any weight from it, regardless.

You say that you exercise a lot - what do you do to keep your muscle mass up? That's supposed to be the key for us "old folks."

glfngrl · Post by **glfngrl** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:23 am

Susan,

I go to the Family Y several times a week. I use the cardio machines, as well as the weight machines. I am very careful, however.........too little or too much are both RLS triggers. I also have arthritis and hypertension, so really need the exercise. Have just started walking some when I play golf....not sure how that is going to affect my arthritic knees, but is good in general. Right now, the 10 pounds that I have recently gained is playing havoc with everything, especially my self-image..LOL! I want so badly to chunk the Requip, but my good nights' sleep would go down the drain with it, I'm afraid. I could lean more heavily on the opoids......they have been very effective, but fear I may need them more as I get older.

Darn this RLS curse! Every day when I go to the nursing home to visit my mother, though, I am reminded that some people do not have legs, and would probably gladly change places with me.

Yes, I know that being back on the forums will be a great source of support for me..........I recently told my SO (who is very supportive) that everyone in the world should have just one night of RLS, because only those of us who have it could ever understand just what it is like. If I had a nickle for every minute I have spent on the floor, trying to read, or watch TV, or doing leg lifts for therapy, I could live in luxury!! By the way, does anyone else sometimes get relief by lying on the floor on your tummy? Or draped over a footstool, with your book on the floor? Or lying on the floor with your back to an open fire, or a heater of some kind?
Oftentimes, these things work for me when nothing else will.

Thanks for all the "welcome-backs"!!

Jane