Requip

[sleepyred]

I have just been prescribed Requip for restless legs. My ferritin is "low" - 26 and my sleep doc says I will have troubles until I can get it up to 60. I also take an iron supplement.

Is anyone on this med and do you have any side effects? I'm leary of starting a new medicine. I'm already on Klonopin 1 mg. (he said they are okay together) for an inner ear disorder.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Sleepyred

[Jerry69]

I take 0.25 mg/day, a small dose. Doesn't bother me. The sleep test said I needed it, but I wasn't aware I did. I haven't noticed any symptoms since starting the Requip. I seem to recall some jerky times before. Anyway, harmless enough.

Jerry

[sleepyred]

Thanks - he put me on a 2 week starter pack which starts me on .25 mg. and increases to 1 mg after two weeks. Did they do this with you or just start you on the .25?

Thanks.

[RAMBLINMAN]

I also just received a Requip 2 week sample Kit......

But what I'm wondering do I just start taking it or do you start to take it when my legs start to bother me....???

One question to all is... are you taking the Requip as a maintance medicine or just when the RLS feeling come about....?

Is it safe to say that using Requip is a treatment for not twitching your legs while your sleeping....?

One question for Jerry ( If I may ask )....You say that your sleep test said you needed it.... what results prompt the doctor for saying this....I mean was it because you had leg movement while you were sleeping....?

Ken

[Paul B]

I have been taking Requip for about 9 months for Periodic Limb Movements during sleep, which is what it was originally prescribed for. It also works well, for those who can tolerate it, for RLS.

You should take it as often as prescribed daily whether or not you are experiencing RLS at the moment.

It needs to be started at a very low dosage and built up to your prescribed dose over a period of a few weeks.

I am not a Dr. and offer this advice only as an informed patient. YMMV.

[Offerocker]

Interesting!
I have PLMD also, and no one mentioned Requip; need to research it. I DO take Mirapex, which usually helps, but when the legs want to do their thing, nothing helps.
At times, I'll get the first signs of it as early as 4:30 p.m. Dr. said to take .25mg around that time, then .50 at bedtime. Works pretty well.

Something else I noticed: I was going to physical therapy for a few months, more stretchine leg/hip muscles. After 2 wks of therapy, I didn't have any occurrences of PLMD! (I can have them even when taking meds).

They seem to come & go. Take meds regularly, as already stated. Once it leg jerks) starts in, it's difficult to get under control, so keep the body prepared!

I also take Klonipin (clonazepam) for a better/deeper sleep. It's a 'controlled substance', so never stop taking it without tapering off. I've had no side effects from either med.

p.s. ambien is no better than aspirin for me. Tylenol PM works better. Although we're all different, the dosage on your Mirapex seem to be in range.

[sleepyred]

I have been taking Requip for about 9 months for Periodic Limb Movements during sleep, which is what it was originally prescribed for. It also works well, for those who can tolerate it, for RLS.

You should take it as often as prescribed daily whether or not you are experiencing RLS at the moment.

It needs to be started at a very low dosage and built up to your prescribed dose over a period of a few weeks.

I am not a Dr. and offer this advice only as an informed patient. YMMV.

What is the difference between PLM and RLS? Did you, or know of someone, who cannot tolerate the Requip? I've read the side-effects, talked to my pharmacist, and she said the patients she's seen on it have had little or no effects - have you had any?

TIA!

I, too, heard you should take it as prescribed, not on an as needed basis.

[Offerocker]

Difference between PLMD and RLS
...depends on who you ask, and the day of the week. My doctor has RLS and described it to me as the URGE to move the legs. Moving the legs relieves this. I do not know how the intervals of these 'urges'.

I have "nocturnal myoclonus", renamed to PLMD. My symptoms are: uncontrollable jerking of the leg/s, usually from knee on down, but have also had the creepy-crawly feeling of a jerk coming on at my thighs. On rare ocassion, I've had the 'jerks' in my arms, usually when tired.
I get these 'electrical stimulations' from 4:30 p.m. on to bedtime. Usually later. Often, they come on an hour after I've been in bed. Always one hour! I get up, walk, stretch, and they still jerk while standing, walking, sitting, laying down. I've been up all night at times.
Good news: Resistant exercises of legs and abduction (?) pressure outward and inward against thigh muscles also helps.
I cannot predict when I may get them; seem to come and go! When they are at their fullest, it is intolerable.
I take clonazepam (Klonipin) for sleep and also aids in that. Mirapex also helps - 25mg late afternoon/early evening, and 50mg 1 hr prior bedtime.
I don't know what else may help. Ambien does nothing to/for me.

I've given you experiences, not technical explanations, but I hope it helps you distinguish between the two. One is a urge, the other is more like someone playing with the electrical impulses to nerve endings and muscles in legs. I can just imagine someone 'hot wiring' those muscles and standing back, laughing as my leg jerks uncontrollable. Very maddening!

[whatrdreamsmadeof]

I too was told I have severe restless leg syndrome, never knew I had it, I was prescribed Requip and took it for about 1 month....the dr. said the only way I would know if it was working was if I slept better.......that did not happen.....she them prescribed sinemet and still not sleeping better...so I gave up. I didn't try the next med, cause I figure the sleep dr. must be going for certification as a liver transplant specialist. I don't want anymore meds., in fact I was hoping cpap treatment would help cut down on the drugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never had any adverse side effects so good luck!!!!!

[kteague]

While RLS & PLMD are different, often the same meds are prescribed. I have both and take Mirapex, with a moderate degree of effectiveness. There's lots of prior posts on this subject. Some here report very good results with Requip. I'm still listening to others' experience and considering making a switch. All of the meds have side effects and can be difficult to tolerate. A diagnosis of either movement disorder does not necessarily mean meds are needed If they don't cause arousals or interrupt your stages of sleep.

I had a pulmonary doc treating my PLMD just because it fell under sleep disorders, and apnea is breathing related. This doc had me on Sinemet for about 5 years (lots of side effects). Saw a neurologist who was appalled and took me off the Sinemet and switched me to Mirapex. Said Sinemet should be reserved for last ditch efforts. Sleep doctor doubled my Mirapex to help with movements - up to total of 3mg over each evening. Saw neuro doc at Cleveland Clinic recently - they cut the Mirapex to 1.5 and said I should never have been on that high of dose and it was causing side effects. So as you see, even the docs don't agree, but I'm all for the ones conservative on meds.

Word to the wise - if you take Mirapex watch out for subtle changes in your behavior. Those class action lawsuits are not without cause. The lower your dose, the better.

Kathy

[Offerocker]

... This doc had me on Sinemet for about 5 years (lots of side effects). Saw a neurologist who was appalled and took me off the Sinemet and switched me to Mirapex. Said Sinemet should be reserved for last ditch efforts. Sleep doctor doubled my Mirapex to help with movements - up to total of 3mg over each evening. Saw neuro doc at Cleveland Clinic recently - they cut the Mirapex to 1.5 and said I should never have been on that high of dose and it was causing side effects. So as you see, even the docs don't agree, but I'm all for the ones conservative on meds.

Kathy, I'm apalled at the length of time that jerk had you on Sinemet! My husband takes it for Parkinson's, and IT IS NASTY STUFF!!! I hope you don't have any long-term damaging effects from it.
What 'type' of dr. did this to you? Hopefully not your family internist.
I am so sorry that you had to endure those effects for 5 years, and so glad you're rid of that drug.

Word to the wise - if you take Mirapex watch out for subtle changes in your behavior. Those class action lawsuits are not without cause. The lower your dose, the better.Kathy

Well, now time for you to educate me! I've not heard anything negative about Mirapex!! I take either .25 late afternoon, then .5 at bedtime, or just down .75 at bedtime (ADD ). Please let me know what are the possibilities with this med. I don't need any MORE problems!! ..and if this may be one of them, I need to know. PM/email is fine. Thanks!

[sleepyred]

I cannot tolerate the 1 mg. of Requip. Dr. put me back to .5 mg. The 1 mg was making me nauseous after I took it and the next day as well. I might try to up it again after I've been on the .5 for a while longer (had some stomach side effects on this dosage, but not nearly as bad).

It's odd how they up your dosage (pharmacist, I am not!)
.25 for two days
.50 for five days
boom - up to 1 mg for 7 days to see how you tolerate it!

Anyone else have side-effects with Requip?

[Guest]

Hi Red,

You need to stay at a lower dosage of Requip for at least a week and then very gradually increase the amount to .75 mg for a week at least and then very gradually increase the dosage to 1 mg., if that's what your Dr. prescribed. It does work quite well for those who can tolerate it.

[Severeena]

I am on 8 1mg Requip a day. I am not having any more problems with jerking.

[sleepyred]

8 mg. - my stomach would self-destruct!