Restless Leg Syndrome and Requip

[Heather3418]

I suffer from increasing problems with Restless Leg Syndrome, now not only affecting my legs, but also my arms.  I also have Multiple Sclerosis.

After trying Klonopin for RLS, without success; I was now placed on Requip.  It's a tritrated dosage, eventually getting up to 4 mgs. once at night.  The side effects of this drug are many for me.  LIghtheadness, dizziness, heart palpitations and increased sweating.  All common side effects, I understand from my doctor.

Is anyone on this forum, also using Requip; that may be able to offer me some positive comments about this drug?  Does ones body get adjusted over time, with the side effects decreasing? I would appreciate any comments any of you could give me.

Much Thanks in Advance....Heather3418

[JCastner]

I have RLS & CHRONIC SCIATICA. .The back problems which you described sounds exactly like chronic sciatica, even down to the shooting pain down your leg and the inability to sit for any length of time.
  MIRAPEX (2+ mg./8 hrs), this formula has worked great for me for both pain and RLS.  however with all these medications are going to have their own side effects or maybe the side effects from this one will be different than the other.
  About norcotic pain medication-- you need to get into pain management, and what's with that pain management doctor to get stronger medication.  Specifically you need to get a long term pain medication
  

[sleepsound]

Hi  everyone I have had rls since childhood it is now in my arms and body and is unbearable pain .

I use codeine sulphate 30, 60 or 90mg at night depending on how bad the rls is ......I find it helps , it stops the pain and reduces the necessary movement, added bonus it also helps me sleep.

I also go to the pain clinic for acupuncture whenever I need it (no charge, thank goodness) and find this helps a lot too.

I have not used other meds due to the augmenting side effect.

Hope this info is of use to some people

[paulinius]

Hi
I have had RLS since I was 14yrs old and can definitely say it gets worse as you get older.  I am now 54 yrs old and it is pretty aweful.  I have been taking ropinirole which is requip by any other name for a year now.  I can only take 2mgs at night as it makes me feel very sick.  Half an hour after taking it I must go to bed otherwise I feel very ill and sick.  As I work nights this can cause problems as I don't then take it every 24 hours as I have to miss a dose my first night duty - this causes a rebound effect whereby my legs are so bad that I could cry.
I'm looking for some other medication which might not cause so much rebound and side effects if anyone knows of one.  I'm from the Uk so some meds are not available here that are over in the states.

Paulinius

[Catrivett]

I have just found out this year that I have RLS.  Thought it was a joke, until after my back surgery.  I never knew before then that I had this problem because I couldn't feel my legs.  Now that I can feel them and the fact that I almost knocked over the table from over me in the hospital, so bad they gave me valium until they did some test.  While I was taking Requip the only thing that I experienced was it seemed like my hair was turning grey really fast.  Unfortuneately, my portion of paying for the requip has gone beyond my means, checked to see if I could get Mirapex same price.  Since neither myself or my Doctor have heard of anything else my pharmacy suggested that I see if i can find a program to help me get the medicine that I so desperately need.  Any ideas?

[Heather3418]

I have been on Elavil before and cannot take it because it caused my heart to flutter.  Since my last post, I have had to stop taking Requip due to worsening side-effects and have started back on Klonopin-2mgs. per night.  I have only had one bout of RLS in the past month or two.  When the RLS is going to happen (affecting my arms as well as my legs) it's going to happen...no matter WHAT medication I take.  Sorry I can't give you a more upbeat report.

I also understand from many doctor's that RLS worsens as we grow older.  That's really something I didn't want to hear.

By the way, I have never heard of Elavil being prescribed for RLS.  I have heard that the new drug Mirapex is alot like Reuip in the way that it is suppose to control the "seziures" in the legs from RLS.  I also heard that it's a stronger medication.  I am NOT going to try it, since if it has the same chemical properties as Requip, it definitely won't work for me.  I DO hope that it works for anyone else that may be taking it.  RLS is a very troublesome problem.  I wish medical science could find something that stops it in it's tracks.  It's not a painful disorder, but my word...does it ever affect you.  For me, I feel like taking a hammer to my legs when they start their jumping.  Anything to make it stop.  When it happens in my arms, my fiancee tells me that he will see me BITING my arms in my sleep.  It's an awful ailment, for sure.

Heather

[sasc3]

Hi heather3418, I had 2 foot surgeries on left foot,that was 3 yrs ago and I developed rsl and I was put on elavil to put me to sleep and was already on an antidepresant,it does help but not a full relief, if you find out more please let me know. good luck


            sasc3

[2pained]

I have RLS and was on Requip until today.  I took 3 mg/day, 1mg at dinner, 2mg at bed.   Side effects not clear as I am on a lot of meds, but definitely did have the sweating and lightheadedness.  Requip worked initially about 50-75%, coupled with Lunesta and Lorazepam, I initially got a full night's sleep.  Now over a year later, it no longer works and side effects I think are worse.  Lunesta no longer works either.  I wake up 4 or more times in an 8 hour period every night.  My Fibromyalgia Nurse Practitioner just switched me to Mirapex to see if it will work better.  I can't take most pain meds and I avoid the others unless pain is a 10.  My biggest problem is sleeping, because when I don't sleep the fibro and neck pain are far worse the next day.  I have to work and just hope the Mirapex will do the job on the RLS.   I will continue the Lorazepam too as it has some benefits for both RLS and sleep.  

good luck with the Requip,some people do just fine on it, but Mirapex (I have heard) is stronger.

[marthasib]

i have started requip for rls.  the first night was terrible.  i couldn't sleep at all.  the next night was ok, but the pain is still in my legs.  how long does it take for the pain to subside?  

[clairee]

I also have rls, and have been on many,many different meds. I too
have tried requip, but the side effects were too many. finally my
doctor put me on hydrocodone and soma. it relieves and controls
all my symptoms of rls and controls the jerking in my legs and arms
as well as helps with the pain. a lot of docs don't like giving narcotics,
but this disorder is debilitating. ask your doc about these meds, they
have made all the difference to me. i have had rls since 1992. good luck,
clairee