Augmentation
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi guys I have a few questions regarding augmentation. I have avoided medication for my RLS for years, I am only 30 and didn't want to start taking such a serious medication with all sorts of side effects, then to have augmentation set in and possibly be left in a worse situation than prior to taking the medication.
Now, things have become so bad that I really do need something to help me lead any kind of life. Doctors first offered me gabapentin and now ropinerole.
Those of you that have tried various medications... how bad is augmentation and how soon did it occur for you? And are symptoms really that much worse after augmentation sets in? Or is it just that you'd forgotten how bad it was or that things would have naturally progressed that way anyway?
How many different medications have to tried and how often do you alternate? Is it the case that you could try drug A then drug B then drug C and then go back to drug A again and it would work? Or would it never again have the desired effect?
Sorry for all the questions. Any advice would be ever so gratefully received 💙
0 likes, 23 replies
Basia19 cassioneandonly
Posted
Hi Cassioneandonly
I have been taking slow release Sifrol 0.75. Early evening plus 1 gabapentin of late re the gabapentin
I happened to read about gabapentin, which it's for nerve pain and also good for RLS I also take a quick release and 2 gabapentin at bed time because I also jerk a lot. Try taking the does release FIRST....
SEE HOW YOU GO because you are young and will have to be on meds for a long time. What I did when I first got RSL was to simply take MAG PHOS( they are tissue cell salts) that you out under the tongue to dissolve. They worked for me for many years before I went on to meds
cassioneandonly Basia19
Posted
Hi Basia, thank you for sharing. Is that a form of magnesium? I currently use mag spray on my legs, take mag bisglycinate and also have occasional Epsom salt baths but if I'm honest it's never seemed to help at all.
I've not heard of Sifrol, is that a dopamine agonist? Have you tried others or did you go straight to taking that?
ooops64 cassioneandonly
Posted
cassioneandonly ooops64
Posted
Thank you oops, I really feel I have tried everything now. Hot and cold showers, Epsom salts, legs upside down, massage, exercise, magnesium cream, bananas & coconut water, iron tablets, meditation, yoga. It really is impossible. I am waking up every couple of hours constantly it's like being held in a torture camp.
glen_30598 cassioneandonly
Posted
I said it before I'll say it agin on this sight, leg squates till your legs burn,do one at a time.ill elaborate if you need more info...has kept me from going nuts ..
cassioneandonly glen_30598
Posted
Thank you glen, it's definitely not that simple anynore.. maybe years ago when it was milder. But now I am up every couple of hours and it's all through the night and in the day now too. I have tried exercise, I have tried Squats. Too much exercise in the day actually makes it worse. Doing squats at night offers no relief. I am waking up every couple of hours constantly it's like being held in a torture camp.
glen_30598 cassioneandonly
Posted
Sorry my comment didn't help..one thing I've heard but never tried is THC:CBD combo the one to one ratio..no high to worry about helps you sleep. Read of a few studies done that were promising,like most RLS remadys it doesn't work for everyone might work for you. Hang in there
cassioneandonly glen_30598
Posted
Thanks Glen, I've heard this mentioned before. Are you in America? I wonder what the legality of those products is in the UK? I shall speak to my doctor!
dianne92682 cassioneandonly
Posted
Hi cassioneandonly ...I've tried all the meds mentioned and the only thing that works for me is clonazepam. I take 0.5mg two at night and occasionally need to take two more in the night. I've been on clonazepam for 17 years now as I had very severe restless legs. It's worked for me..saved my sanity. I do hope you find something that works.
cassioneandonly dianne92682
Posted
dianne92682 cassioneandonly
Posted
Yes clonazepam has worked for 17 years. I even managed to slowly reduce my initial dose of 2mg x 2 nightly down to 0.5mg x 2 nightly. Very very slowly though. The 0.5mg seem to work with the occasional extra dose needed..I find alcohol will exacerbate the rls . I am aware that I'm addicted to a benzodiazepine but at least I do have a good quality of life. The only side effect I've known is tiredness in the morning but not to such a degree that I couldn't do a full time job and look after a family. Hope this answers your question.
cassioneandonly dianne92682
Posted
Hi Diane, that's wonderful to hear. I just hope I might have the same luck. Thank you x
beagle cassioneandonly
Posted
Gabapentin worked well for me for about 9 months then stopped working. Side effects weren't as bad as the RLS. I then tried Dopamine agonists which can lead to augmentation. Ropinorole worked for about a year and then I changed to pramipexole before patches. I thought that I would be able to keep switching between DA's as each stopped working but it's probably not a good idea and better to stop DAs for a few months before returning to them. I found they worked for shorter and shorter periods and increased doses until I passed out and fell (on patches). As you say it's difficult to assess augmentation or deterioration but changeover is Hell! I tried Tramadol for the changeover and 2 years later am still on it and sleeping soundly. Only side effect is falling asleep if I sit down and relax but better than RLS. Read RLS book, join all the forums and work with your GP and you will find your way....
cassioneandonly beagle
Posted
Thank you Beagle, this is what I'm worried about. Tramadol sounds promising though, I'm glad you have found something that works for you. Is there a particular RLS book that you would recommend?
beagle cassioneandonly
Posted