RLS and methadone

[cmjjaabp]

On a search page for this site I read, pertaining to the use of methadone for RLS : " Were you an addict?  That causes me to laugh.  I lost my job, got disability, totaled seven cars and broke my ankle on the steps before methadone.  15mg a day now, started at 10mg in 2003.  Has anyone had really long term success with methadone for
RLS?

[kimmiej62]

Opiodsts have been considered an effective treatment for RLS since the late 1600's and for over three hundred years, the only treatment for RLS.  Although it is not usually a first line treatment, for patients with augmentation from mirapex or requip and little success with gabapentin, methadone is the drug of choice.  Please refer to the Willis-Ekbom Foundation website for current literature.

I have suffered with RLS for 40 years.  I have used every medication available and numerous natural therapies, vitamin supplements et.  In the end I was forced to take methadone.  It is wonderful for RLS and I virtually have no RLS when taken as prescribed.  However, I would do anything to get off the methadone.  There is a stigma associated with this drug and I have been treated badly by many health professionals as a result.  I have been on the methadone for 9 years and am currently trying to wean of while increasing gabapentin.  I am one month into the process and I taking 1/3 of my prior methadone dose.  I am now starting to have increasing sweats, chills and nausea.  I can only hope that I will see this through to the end.
I had tried gabapentin years ago and found that I was so sleepy I could not function.  I think the physician had not considered a low enough dose of methadone and probably too high a dose of gaba and the combination resulted in me sleeping 20 hours a day.

I realize this is a very late response to a post but for anyone new reading I hope this was helpful, and I wish you the best in finding an adequate treatment.  RLS can be a debilitating illness that can result in loss of sleep for days, weeks or months.  Insomnia will likely result in some health problems and mental health problems.

[kimmiej62]

Opiodsts have been considered an effective treatment for RLS since the late 1600's and for over three hundred years, the only treatment for RLS.  Although it is not usually a first line treatment, for patients with augmentation from mirapex or requip and little success with gabapentin, methadone is the drug of choice.  Please refer to the Willis-Ekbom Foundation website for current literature.

I have suffered with RLS for 40 years.  I have used every medication available and numerous natural therapies, vitamin supplements et.  In the end I was forced to take methadone.  It is wonderful for RLS and I virtually have no RLS when taken as prescribed.  However, I would do anything to get off the methadone.  There is a stigma associated with this drug and I have been treated badly by many health professionals as a result.  I have been on the methadone for 9 years and am currently trying to wean of while increasing gabapentin.  I am one month into the process and I taking 1/3 of my prior methadone dose.  I am now starting to have increasing sweats, chills and nausea.  I can only hope that I will see this through to the end.
I had tried gabapentin years ago and found that I was so sleepy I could not function.  I think the physician had not considered a low enough dose of methadone and probably too high a dose of gaba and the combination resulted in me sleeping 20 hours a day.

I realize this is a very late response to a post but for anyone new reading I hope this was helpful, and I wish you the best in finding an adequate treatment.  R

[gnarly_1]

DUDE get off the methadone wile you can it is an evil drug with horrible withdrawals ......there are vitamins you can take for RLS magnesium and potassium will help this....go off the methadone slowly and get on the supplements you will be doing yourself a huge favor......Gnarly    

[Missylkg]

Hi i,ve been doing some reading for my own (opiate wd induced) rls and found the following update on treatment approaches on 'Medscape'

''Opioids

Opioid agents have been shown to be helpful in both restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.[36,37] In addition to their analgesic and sedative properties, they might work through a specific interaction between the opioid and dopaminergic systems. Direct comparisons between various opioids and between opioids and other medications, are lacking. Because of concerns about their addictive potential, these agents are generally reserved for use in more severely affected patients, in patients who have failed other medications, or in the uncommon patient with pain as a prominent symptom.''

Here is the link for anyone who wishes to read more.....i found it v helpful.... http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405870_7 it covers many different treatment options not just opiates....i just copied that because it was relevant to the post instead of including the entire article

On a personal level having gone thru terrible rls as a result of opiate withdrawal i,d be lying if i didn't express my concerns for someone embarking on opiate therapy for this reason....you,ve done the right thing coming here....check out our experiences of opiates and of rls.....i obviously can't say if you would end up an addict and end up in a downward spiral but what does happen is the physical dependency with continued use and that can be a very difficult thing to deal with.....Hope thing helps good luck L

[jackfrost557]

I recently started taking methadone for my RLS. My RLS was extremely severe - to the point where I was only able to sleep a couple hours a night, unable to sleep in a bed (I've had to sleep on the floor for about the last 5 years), I would punch my legs to make them go numb, spend most of the night walking around my living room, and spent much of my time in a lot of pain. Methadone has been extremely helpful so far. I am sleeping at night and my legs rarely bother me. Methadone has a long acting period (around 16 hours), works well for treating neuropathic pain, and is inexpensive. Methadone isn't the first medication you should try for RLS, but for severe RLS it is one of the only medications that works. If your RLS is so severe that methadone is being considered to treat it you should consider going to Johns Hopkins, Emory, or Vanderbilt sleep disorder centers. These universities have the top RLS doctors in the USA, and they see patients with severe RLS daily. Methadone can be addictive and has some dangerous side effects so make sure you have a doctor you trust and who has lots of experience treating severe RLS to keep an eye on you. Severe RLS is an awful disorder and my heart goes out to anyone else out there who has it.

[enough911]

I have been on methadone for 5 months now and my life has taken a 180. I do not ever want to be like I was 5 months ago. I work and I am a great mother again and I am dependable and proud of myself. I dont cry everynight wishing God would just take me I am praying Thank you to God every day all day. I recomend it totaly.

[botchedup]

what???? uh, never heard of that....have heard of withdrawals causing restless leg syndrome but never the drugs themselves.....?  Were you taking a different opioid before the methadone??? WOW!

[mtgoat911]

a doctor has perscribed methadone to you for rls?
this goes so far out of the standard of care for this condition
i must be over looking something, please tell me i am

[TrayCee]

wait...what???

To be clear, youre taking methadone for RLS???

[learning2befree]

never heard of it and when you get off the methadone it causes RLS so Im very confused as to why they perscribed it