Difference between RLS and wd

[bubblegum425]

my doctor thinks that my problem is really RLS not withdrawal.
A few years ago ( I was taking percocet then but don't remember how much and how often) I fell out of bed  a couple of nights and banged myself on the bedside table. I realized then that when I took a percocet for pain before going to bed, I did not fall out of bed. A doctor told me that I have RLS and to continue taking percocet since it worked.
Now I've been tapering down and am now on 1/2 perc. at night. I  wake up fidgeting and with a crawin feeling in the middle of the night.
My doctor said to continue taking 1/2 perc, for 2 weeks and if the antsy feeling does not go away it means that it is the full blown RLS, not withdrawal.
I feel that 2 weeks is a long time. I was hoping to be off the pills then.
Anyone, any comments?

[bobby139]

I have RLS but it has come and gone over the years was once put on something called tamazapam for it but knew that was addictive only tried it a few times...but when i went tho the w/ds it felt the same way..but didnt take anything for it. I dont know if your real RLS comes and goes like mine or not?

[Jacqui805]

PM is private message....

[bubblegum425]

This forum is great! It seems to me that a loy of good common sense and experience .
Corey, how did your son get over the rls form wd if he still has RLS? I've heard of Requip before but what is the new drug out for RLS?I think my problem is wd but coming days will tell. I liked Jacqui's response.
What does PM mean? I'm not up to the lingo!
I feel a bit less "antsy" than an hour ago!
Very informative and helpful forum

[corey411]

Agree with Jacqui, My son had rls with wd from heroin three years ago. He still has rls but it's obviously not from wd anymore. He got an rx for Requip and said it was the best sleep he had in years. This only lasted....for him a few weeks so he uses them and goes wo for awhile. There is also a new drug out. I only heard of 1 doc who was actually perscribing Oxy every 12 hrs. for a man with rls. This man had been on lots of pain and psych meds and I'm sure it was the meds. I think the doc new it too...Just didn't want to deal with the drama.

Hope you got my PM before you went to your doc appt.         Corey

[Jacqui805]

Requip is most often prescribed for RLS, but again, there are many other reasons for parasthesia, and it should be looked into....not to mention falling out of bed.  There are many meds., and a neurologist would be the very best one to help in this situation.

[stormchild]

Hmm.  You might not have withdrawals, do you have any other symptoms during the day for example?
I'd get a second opinion by the way.  Percocet is apparently not suitable for long term use, since it can cause other side effects.  If you have RLS perhaps there is better treatment for it than narcotic pain medication?
Love and light
Sam

[Jacqui805]

Of course RLS, and RLS-type s/s related to w/d are two different things, but I personally think your doctor's way of trying to find out which you are experiencing is off.  Since you're weaning, you're likely to experience the w/d r/t RLS and after the two weeks and you're done 'em, you're likely to experience them even more.  I really don't think it's a good time to try to figure it out.  Even though docs have medical knowledge, they don't necessarily understand it all, and certainly not often enough, when they haven't been through something themselves.  I'd only even try to get the situation sorted out by seeing a neurologist in the first place, and frankly, like I said, I really don't think it'll be clearly distinguishable, as to which you are having problems from.  I think the doctor's reason for telling you to take the percocet in the first place is shameful..just to keep you from falling out of bed.  That to me, clearly should have had him sending you to a neurologist and a full-neuro workup to find out why you were falling out of bed.  To me, what you are experiencing is w/d related RLS-type s/s.  This is not to say I'm sure, but since you're weaning and having problems, it seems likely.  If you see a neurologist and they diagnose you with RLS, they will put you on the proper meds. to help.  There are other reasons besides RLS that can cause parasthesias in your limbs, and they should all be ruled out by a qualified neurologist.  Good luck, hope you're feeling better soon.

[mimi1313]

I think he just wants to be sure. Percs are presribed for RLS but there are obviously non narcotic alternatives available. If it doesn't stop I'm sure he'll presribe one of the drugs for RLS specifically.

[cathy5841]

i can only say that after i stopped the pills the rls from w/ds stayed with me for what seemed like forever.  i dont really know how long.  but, if it is rls and not w/ds there are non-narcotics you can take to stop it.  good luck
cathy