Drug may might ease symptoms of restless legs syndrome

The question: One theory holds that the tingling and tightening sensations and the nearly irresistible desire to move the legs that characterize restless legs syndrome may be related to dopamine, a chemical ...

[moskie]

After years of my not knowing what this was called, and then describing it to my RNP, I was placed on a trial of Requip for treatment of RLS. After the first dose last night, my husband said that after coming to bed, he noticed a BIG difference in my symptoms. I normally move every 20-25 seconds [and he usually sleeps in the guest bedroom]. Last night, I actually slept STILL for about 5 hours! THIS WAS AFTER ONE DOSE! Of course, I exhaust after 4-5 days due to this, and do sleep still this long due to this exhaustion, so I don't know if I was "catching up", or if it was the med. I'm keeping a log, if anyone with GSK is interested. Otherwise, this is just a comment for general FYI from one new consumer. I hope this was not a fluke??

[red sunshine]

I have been suffering from both RLS and Periodic Leg Movement since I was 23 years old. My mother, grandmother and aunt suffer from these also. Im 26 now and I started taking Requip last week. I have noticed a BIG difference in sleeping at night. I use to wake up feeling wore out from tossing and turning ALL night. My fiancee said that I would wake up every 30 minutes or so throughout the night. And like Moskie's husband (above post), he would sleep in the guest bedroom also.
However, I took my first 1mg dosage last night and today Im very drousy (I got 9 hours of sleep). I feel sleepy and sluggish. Im thinking its from the high dosage. Im going to go back to .5mg to determine if it works best for me.
I hope so! I would give anything to get a good nights rest!!!

[moskie]

After almost 3 months now of taking Requip, I can definitely say that it is not a fluke![To Red Sunshine, above post:I started on the trial sample pack, 0.25 mg x 2 days, 0.5 mg x 5 days, then 1.0 mg since]. The Requip has never made me drowsy, I just sleep without movement for several hours now. I do have Ambien 10 mg. prn, but usually take half that dose, and only on occasion. When I didn't get Requip filled recently, missing just one dose, I took 5 mg. Ambien, thinking I would sleep with that. NOT! I was drowsy, yes...but could NOT stop movement, and got little or no rest that night. I could give up the Ambien without a problem; I could not do without the Requip! So far, 1 mg every night has done the job. I pray this continues!

[red sunshine]

Moskie, Have you been having any small muscle spasms in your legs?
Please email me [e-mail]
Thanks and I look forward to our discussion.
-Ashley

[Juanita Coldiron]

I have been taing Requip 2 mg at night for 8 months. I recently hae had trouble sleeping, terrible leg pain and now drowsiness, decreased blood pressure, and pinpoint pupils. My vision hs decreasd. Sinc I am a nurse, I had the pharmacist look up the side effects at the hospital. Shocking
results. I am going to taper off and stop. I would rather use a heating pad etc. than been so groggy that I can't see or drive. Please check with you Physician if you develop these symptons.

[Victoria Young]

I have had RLS for years now. I have taken Requip for about 1 year. The dosage was small at first and now I take 2 pills both 1 milligram. It is not helping anymore, I cant sleep,and I get terrible leg cramps also. Not only does my leg start it's worst symptoms at around 7 every night, it does it most of the day when sit too long or I lay down. So to say that I sleep for a couple hours a night and the rest of the time I just want to cry. Requip works for awhile and the longer you are on it the more you will need. I cant even take naps during the day and it is a nightmare. So anyone who has any other way to help please let me know, this is ruining my life, I cant even lay down and take a nap.

[Connie]

Victoria Young wrote:

I have had RLS for years now. I have taken Requip for about 1 year. The dosage was small at first and now I take 2 pills both 1 milligram. It is not helping anymore, I cant sleep,and I get terrible leg cramps also. Not only does my leg start it's worst symptoms at around 7 every night, it does it most of the day when sit too long or I lay down. So to say that I sleep for a couple hours a night and the rest of the time I just want to cry. Requip works for awhile and the longer you are on it the more you will need. I cant even take naps during the day and it is a nightmare. So anyone who has any other way to help please let me know, this is ruining my life, I cant even lay down and take a nap.

I can relate to your problems with Requip. I have been taking it for 4 months now. My RLS has gone from once a week to every day and the symptoms are ten times worse than when I started on Requip. I can't sleep even though I feel completely lethargic. I am very depressed and my fibromyalgia pain has tripled. I am afraid to stop the Requip because the symptoms have now become unbearable. I hope to get an appt. with my doctor to discuss other options.

[Rik]

This sounds awful to me,the drug started good then ruinmed you?

[Requip]

Parkinson's drugs like Mirapex and Requip have been linked to compulsive disorders like gambling addictions. For more information visit:http://www.yourlawyer.co m/topics/overview/requip

[Morrel]

Requip wrote:

Parkinson's drugs like Mirapex and Requip have been linked to compulsive disorders like gambling addictions. For more information visit:http://www.yourlawyer.co m/topics/overview/requip

Parasite ^

[Boxes]

I have had RLS as long as I can remember and Dr.s thought I was nuts when I tried to discuss it with them. But since it has come out in the open they listen now. I have taken the requip starter pack and when I got up to the 1 mg tablets, I started having blood pressure problems. So I backed off the requip. The RLS was unbearable for about 3 days and then went back to my usual version of it. I waited about 2 weeks and then started the requip again only taking the .25mg pills and was up to the .50mg. After taking them for a couple of weeks I started having my blood pressure problems again (I normally have low blood pressure) and even had an espisode Monday night where I had to go to the E. R. and was admitted to the hospital for heart problems. So I am trying to back off the requip once again. I just dread those few days while it all gets out of my system. While on the drug my symptons were worse during normal parts of the day but I slept at night. I read somewhere of other people who have had heart problems after taking it.