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MedHelp Member's Question

RLS hell!!!

by gem1angel, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
Hi everyone,Happy new year to u all! I came off subutex 4mths ago and I still have RLS bad, its keeping me up at night and i just cant seem to relax.



Everything has been going well for the past month apart from this RLS, i feel like i have an electric current in my legs.



How long does this last? and does anyone know of a mineral or supplement i can take to help with this problem?



Thanx in advance.
Member Comments (27)

by liquidgal, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: Gem
All sympathy to you Gem. I get restless legs really badly too. The only thing I can recommend - is the same as what they suggest for RLS in pregnancy (which I got really badly) - high doses of calcium &  magnesium & either less or more salt (depending on your intake - meaning if you use lots of slat, decreases theamount, or if you hardly ever use, increase it).



I really HTH's.



Did you come of Methadone with Subutex? (I am doing it at the moment - day 6 of no methadone &  day 5 of being on the Sub.....I just wish I could sleep......)



With warmth, Liquid.

by skipper, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: gem1angel
gem1angel:

for you RLS:

1) you could try quinine. in some state you can buy pills of it over the counter in a drug store. you can also buy quinine water (for gin

an tonics). you could also see if your doc would perscrib bacloven. it is a neuro-musclar relaxer that works wonder on led cramps from

w/d and post w/d rls.



keep an angel om your shoulder

by gem1angel, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
Thanx liqiudgal and skipper for your quick response,

Liquidgal, I came off methadone using subutex, and i also didnt sleep for about a month and a half, the only bad withdrawals i had was not sleeping, this restless leg and feeling generally weak, i didnt have stomach cramps,or sweats, but after the 3mth mark i started to get my energy back and i am sleeping better but i wake through the night with this RlS, I started taking daily vitamins and minerals and go to the gym 3 times a week, to speed things up, good luck with the sub!



Skipper, I live in the UK so i,ll keep my eye out for that quinne.



Thanx for the info, take care

by liquidgal, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: Gem!
WELL DONE!! :-)



It is SOOOOoooooo good for me to read of people who've successfully come-off the Methadone. WOOHOO!! for you!!!



PLEASE if you feel at all inspired. I'd love to know what dose of Methadone you came off? & how long you were on Methadone?



I was on it 7 years (30mg when I stopped). Tranferred to the Sub on the 2nd. I can't say I am comfortable but I'm not hanging out either. My SUB dose is 8mg.



Oh the RLS suck. I get it too. I HOPE you get some relief.



With warmth, Liquid.

by gem1angel, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: liquidgal
Hi, thanx for your kind words, Well i was on meth for 3 and a half years, I tapered from 60mls to 30mls then switched to 2mgs of sub went up daily to 7mgs, then came down slowly, all in all it took 3mths to get stabilized and taper.



How you finding it so far? The stage you are at, i found so hard, the sleeping part was a nightmare!



Hang in there, and well done for getting this far!!!

by liquidgal, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: GEM!
Oh wow! Gem WELLDONE!! :-)



You should be SOOOOooo PROUD to be where you are!!.



It means such alot to me to hear of someone who knows so similarly what it is like to be where I am.....

It hasn't been easy. The sheer lack of sleep & the feelings of w/d going on just under the surface. It is like I am "hanging-out" even though I'm not, KWIM?



But every day that passes is one more day that I am OFF the methadone & one step closer to regaining MY life!



It gives me SO MUCH strength to know that there are people out there who DID it! Who kicked this drug & are getting well again. YAY!



THANKYOU!



With all warmth. Liquid.

by Amethyst11, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: gem1angel
Have you tried Melatonin to help you sleep.  It is available over the counter.



Melatonin helps maintain healthy sleep cycles.



Normally the human body produces melatonin to regulate our sleep-wake cycles.  Studies suggest that melatonin can hasten sleep and ease jet lag, without the hazards or side effects of prescription sleeping pills.



Melatonin may have many other uses and has been reported to make people feel better, strengthen the immune system, and reduce free radicals in the body. Current research is underway to determine melatonin's effect as an anti-oxidant, immno-modulator in cancer, delayed sleep-phase disorders, and jet lag. Tests are still under way so there is much to still be learned about melatonin and its effects on the human body.



Best wishes to all!

by teeitup, Jan 05, 2003 12:00AM
To: AutumnRose,Finished
We need to hear from you 2, how are you doing?



teeitup!

by liquidgal, Jan 06, 2003 12:00AM
To: Sharon
Hi there! :-)



Yes the lack of sleep has been brutal. A bit better today 'cos I was able to get some sleep last night thanks to 2 5mg valium (which do OH-SO help with w/d).



My doctor is obviously very anti prescribing sleeping tablets. Admittedly I haven't "pushed" him - but his signals are very clear. On the 3rd night of basically NO sleep & the fact that I have 3 children to care for (thankGOD for my husband), I indicated to my doc that the lack of sleep was absolutely crucuifying me - & he gave me 3 10mg temazipan (Normison). I find these sleeping tablets VERY weak, but hey they were better than nothing!. I maybe got 4hrs a night for the next 3 nights taking them (only 1 each night as I'd prefer 3 nights of a bit of sleep than only 1 night of reasonable sleep).



My doc also reckons that the no sleeping is part of the w/d & something that has to be gotten through. It has been my experience that most docs are VERY unsympathatic with sleeping medication through w/d. Sigh.



It is mentioned in the literature I received on BUP treatment that sedatives, alcohol, etc are contraindicated - but this I personally believe is just the general warning issued with any opiate medication, due primarily to the respitatory depression it can cause if people take large doses.

I certainly do not believe it is harmful to take in small doses -  & my doc hasn't told me to NOT take anything.



Sharon, I have found the transistion to the BUP rough (I am feeling better today  - day 7 of NO methadone & day 6 of BUP). But if it is as comparably "easier" to get-off than the methadone then IMHO there is NO question you should try to get it.



I will definitely keep you updated & share my experiences.



I hope for you very much that you will find your best way through this.



With all warmth, Liquid.

by sharonver, Jan 06, 2003 12:00AM
To: liquidgal
Glad to hear that you were able to get some sleep! That is one of the worse parts of W/D's.  Your doctor seems to be very unsympathetic.  I haven't asked my doctor yet, so I don't know how he is going to react.  I just bought some melatonin today, I took it a little while ago, so I am hoping that this will help a little. Have you ever tried that?  Right now I am holding at 6mg for awhile until I decide what to do, I keep hearing positive & negative thoughts on bup. so i am a little bit confused right now.



Sharon

by Pinkit, Jan 06, 2003 12:00AM
Okay I'm alittle confused.  Are you guys having trouble sleeping because of the anxiety that accompanies the withdrawals.  I'm addicted to vicodin ES.  I tell you when I tried to quit cold turkey there was no sleeping for me.  I tried everything, but I had no energy.  I felt so run down, but just could not sleep.  I went in and talked to my DR. and begged her to help me.  She was so caring towards my addiction.  I'm so sorry to hear how some doctors are though.  Anyways, she started by putting me on a taper schedule which is working out.  I'm on ativan for the anxiety and to help me sleep.  I take 2 1 mg tabs a night.  It really helps me sleep.  Maybe you could talk to your dr about that.  Unfortunatly, ativan is addictive so use causion and I think in small doses you'll be just fine.  I hope I helped alittle.  I just know how hard it is # 1 to fight this addiction and # 2 to feel so run down the next morning that all you want to do is take another pill to feel more awake....  I really hope doctors start to learn more about addiction.  No one should have to feel guilty for talking about this...

by Jennibean, Jan 06, 2003 12:00AM
Well I guess it is not just me! When I am in withdrawal my restless legs are almost my worst symptom besides the overall insomnia and fatigue yet when I went inot detox a few months ago and have gone to Pills anonomous meetings nobody else seems to understand what I am saying about the RLS. Mine has gotten so severe to the point now that I have that feeling in my knees, feet, elbows, hands and even my abdomen now. I guess because I was taking so much last time. I always try to describe it to people and they just cannot imagine how awful it is! I say it feels as if those areas have been numb for so long and they are coming back to life and I can't stand it. I also say it just feels as if there is an energy running through these areas. I try to sleep