Oxycodone withdrawl and RLS

[Softtail]

Okay Here is a brief rundown of my predicament.   Hopefully someone in this forum might have a similar situation or have gone through a similar situation and might have some advice. As briefly as I can recount , I have severe RLS I was originally on a drug called Requip and that augmented i.e. got worse and symptoms  Spread to other parts of my body and I had to quit Taking it.  When you stop Requip your symptoms increased tenfold for about two  to four weeks or longer.  
During this time I found through research oxycodone to be an effective symptom reliever especially during this period.  I found this to be true and I took 5 to 7.5 mg ffor a period of time ( month or two) , I then found a book  book about how to handle RLS without drugs and got off the oxycodone altogether in early 2012.  I was able to handle my symptoms without oxycodone using hot baths and some other tricks to get to sleep .  I also suffer from  moderate depression and use Wellbutrin  to help keep that in check. Wellbutrin is one of the few antidepressants that is RLS friendly.  A long about mid December 2012 I found hot baths were not working quite as well so stupid me I started taking 5 to 7.5 mg of oxycodone which did help me get to sleep by relieving the symptoms, again only taking the drug at night.
About early March I noticed that during the day I would start to feel off , moody,  depressed , get some stomach cramps Lost some of my appetite and this would last into the evening.  
Before bed I would take (now 5 to 10) the oxy , take my bath n feel great.  
Now this is still true , but during day , depression returns , some cramps.  
Early on  fearing addiction/ dependency I asked RLS doctor who uses both oxy and methadone for treating severe RLS if this small amount would be addictive And he indicated he often prescribes up to 30 mg a day without any fear of this problem.   Well correct me if you think I'm wrong ! But I think just taking the amount at night is causing withdrawal , and depression during the day and think I am addicted.  
Last night I quit taking oxy. Made it through the night with four Baths, and all day have had mild anxiety, am  pretty depressed and have  stomach cramps .

Sound like withdrawals .  I think so.  
Anybody had a similar situation and how do you handle your RLS if you quit the oxycodone and can't sleep because of the symptoms.  
Thanks in advance for anyone who takes the time to read this and give me any answer.  

[Merri123]

Requip helps me a lot. I take one before bed only. Yes opiates help but that is not the solution for obvious reasons. I also have Raynauds bad too and suspect Sjögren's too. So put those together and I hurt. When I sit or lay still. When I cold. Relaxing is not fun for me. Epson salt and hot baths help. I have a magnesium oil spray I use (made by Life-Flo).  At night I'll sleep in the floor if my arms or legs hurt bad. Heating pad or heated blanket helps. Tight fitting socks up to the knees. My dr has me on therapeutic doses was fish oil (liquid) and Vit D too. I have noticed a decrease in episodes.

There is no cure all. Hylands didn't work for me at all. You have to try something out for a couple months to see if it will help or not. Trial by error.

[Ronnn3]

I tried 1/2 Ambien after an rls episode that went on until 4am the night before. I tried Ambien a couple of weeks ago prior,  when I did not have rls and I slept soundly. However, it was of no use the night rls returned. In fact, it seemed to make things worse. I was up until 6am and during those long hours, I felt some rage that I had not experienced -maybe related to the Ambien, maybe not- but it helped me not.

I hear marijuana can be very effective, and although I have never enjoyed it socially, I don't see the harm smoking or ingesting it at bedtime if it will mitigate the hellish effects of rls.

[Softtail]

here I am again going on midnight, and just tried a home remedy my wife found in a mag that said it would put me to sleep in 20 mins.   got in Jacuzzi,soaked for 10 mins , then took the drink, waited 5 mins, got out went to bed, and 20 mins later , arms and legs jumping and had to get up.  
I just am not tired when I go to bed, so I lay there for the 10 mins or so with no symptoms,hoping I can fall asleep, then slowly the jumps creep in and I have to get up.  
Sitting here ,pretty much symptom free from the oxy, depression not bad, but got to deal with the restless legs.
Last night got to sleep finally at around 4am good till around 8:30.  
Lucky I am retired and can deal with this , but being up all night *****.
Never tried a sleeping pill like ambien, but I bet thats a whole nother ****** road to go down with more addiction at the end of it ,.....right
softtail

[Softtail]

Thanks for support.  For me everything is secondary in the withdrawal category of symptoms  to the depression I have encountered.  It comes and goes , day 3 plus of quitting the 10 mgs per day of oxy.  If I was just quoting it from taking it for pain I would be more positive but quoting it leaves me to deal with my severe RLS on its own n that means 4 am mornings and 3 hour sleep cycles.  Could be worse  but if I didn't get windows where my depression lifts , I am not sure how I would react.

[Brightfutureahead]

Tonic water helped a great deal for my restless legs. Now my RLS was temporary as it was part of withdraws, but it helped nonetheless. Methadone, and even oxycodone, to manage RLS sounds a little extreme to me (man they are addictive!) but what do i know--im not a medical professional! Congrats on listening to your body and intuition, recognizing what's going on, and taking action. Best of luck to you and remember, we're always here for support!

[vicki595]

Hi there-     Here are some suggestions for treating RLS:

Take hot baths with Epsom salts; about a cupful.
Take potassium, magnesium tablets.
Get Hylands Restful Legs tablets at Walgreens or Walmart.
Drink Tonic water.

You can do all or some of these things and it should help.

Try Alteril to help you sleep. It's all natural.

Let us know how you are-

[rjwells00]

I too have RLS I too am on oxys however not for the RLS so I take thenm all day and fentanyl 100mcg every 72 hrs.  But it does sound to me that you are experience withdrawl during the day.  I am very happy to here that you were taking them as perscribed and when u discovered the addiction you came off of them.  You seem to be a very strong willed person.  Way back when my pain was only the RLS 800mg of advil which is prescription strength and the hot baths really helped so if you havent tried the 800mg advil give it a whirl also something else that helped me was those pressure sockd you can get them at the pharmacy they are kinda expensive but well worth it to help the RLS make sure you have the people at the pharmacy help you to be sure you get the right amount of pressure for the socks really give the pressure hose or stockings  let me know if it works for you.

[Bubulous]

I have had RLS all of my life and I tried the Requip as well which helpedd me but when I was w/ding it did not help a bit.  I usually (when I am not using) have to shake my feet until I go to sleep.  I take a hot shower before I go to sleep and that helps a little but depending on how long I have been on my feet during the day I still have to shake my feet and stretch my legs and calves for a few minutes before I can go to sleep.
Anyway others will be able to help you understand the w/d symptoms you may be experiencing.  I cannot relate exactly to that because I never took such a low dose.