Treatment of PLMD

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:01 pm

What have you used to treat PLMD..pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:33 pm

i've been on low dose requip since last may...
.25mg at 6 p.m. and .25mg at 9 p.m. (though i rarely remember to take them at the correct times!)
the pharmacist tells me if i took any lower of a dose i wouldn't be taking any...
i find it really helps with the restless leg in the evening, and i can only hope it's working at night for the plmd, since i'm sleeping and don't really know what's going on! i'm going in for another sleep study at the end of the month so i'll know then what's really happening with the meds

BrnEyez · Post by **BrnEyez** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:34 pm

I'm interested in the response to this question also. I was not even aware that PLMD was one of my issues until the sleep study was done which reported "severe" PLMD. I have never had tossed about bed covers. I have never had a husband(s) mention anything about leg movements, kicking, jerking, etc. My husband stays awake much longer than I, watching TV in bed, so I would think he would be aware of some movement. One ponders how the movements can be so slight, but yet enough to disturb sleep.

Sleep Doc said that CPAP may help the situation, only another sleep study will tell, or, he suggested .25 to 1.0 mg Requip as "first-line" option.

I have been on CPAP since November 7th and have not had a follow up sleep study yet. I don't know if they call me or I call them.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:54 pm

Well ain't love grand. I read the report out loud and said "Funny I never kicked you at night?" I got a funny look and, "You've kicked since we've been together!" I said, "Sixteen years and you've never said anything!" The reply was a soft, "I figured it came with the package."

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:23 pm

krousseau,

That hubby of yours is a keeper - loved that story!

PLMD was discussed a lot on here a year or two ago. I started out on Sinemet for about 3-4 years, then was switched to Mirapex for the last 6 years, which has been both a blessing and a curse. I see commercials now for Mirapex for RLS, but I don't see Requip being pushed for PLMD. Both come with warnings that really should not be taken lightly.

As far as non-pharm treatments, making sure a low ferritin level isn't a cause or at least a contributing factor is the first line of defense for some docs, others just start with meds to control the symptoms. It is recommended the ferritin level be at least 50 or 60 for persons with movement disorders.

Some on here have found relief with supplements. Maybe they'll chime in with those product names.

When I was off the Mirapex for a while I was using the bars of Ivory soap in the bed, and strangely enough, it seemed to take the edge off the movements enough that I could get some sleep. Don't ask me to explain that. I just know I was getting no sleep before I used them and some sleep with 4 bars in the bed right by my feet under the sheet. That may be even more effective for someone whose PLMD is very mild.

That's all I've got.

Kathy

BigGayBert · Post by **BigGayBert** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:47 pm

I went through the gamut of drugs for PLMD before finding that opiates work well for me. Which sucks, because they have some nasty side effects. I currently take 10mg of Vicodin each night.

Before that I tried Requip, Mirapex, Pergolide, Sinemet, Levodopa, Klonopin, Valium, Restoril, Neurontin, Keppra, Depakote, Lamictal, Topamax, Tegretol, and some more that I can't remember right now. It has been a wild ride.

While I have to say it hasn't been particularly pleasant, you can at least rest easy knowing that there are literally dozens of drugs in several different classes that can be effective. You are practically guaranteed that you will find something that works, eventually.

Best of luck to you. I know what you are going through can't be comfortable!

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:11 am

BigGayBert,

Wow, that's a lot of meds that didn't work. Did they just not stop the movements or did the side effects prohibit getting to a large enough dose to be effective?

Also, where do you stand with the ferritin Level? Were you tested and/or treated and if so, did it make a difference? Getting my ferritin level up helped my RLS but not my PLMD.

Kathy

BigGayBert · Post by **BigGayBert** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:01 am

kteague wrote:Did they just not stop the movements or did the side effects prohibit getting to a large enough dose to be effective?

Also, where do you stand with the ferritin Level? Were you tested and/or treated and if so, did it make a difference? Getting my ferritin level up helped my RLS but not my PLMD.

Kathy,

None of those medications did a thing for me. The only one that I had any side effects from was the Mirapex. I had an extremely rare side-effect; I had very, very strange visual hallucinations. I sat on my couch for an hour and watched one of my paintings slowly melt down the wall into a little puddle on the floor. My neurologist said she had never heard of anyone having that reaction before, so it's really nothing that you should worry about.

My neurologist tests my ferritin levels each time I go, and it's always good. I wish I could find something that works that isn't a narcotic, but I'm thankful that I do have something that works.
Best of luck to you, and be sure to let us know how it's going!
Bert =)

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