I take Gapapentin for my FM. I’ve been taking it now for about five weeks. I read that one of the things Gabapentin is prescribed for is restless leg syndrome. It’s 1:30 in the morning and I am up because I have RLS so bad I can’t sleep. I have episodes of it almost nightly. It drives me crazy. I guess I’m surprised that if this is something that is suppose to help treat RLS, why is it not working? Also, my skin feels like it burns at times. Sometimes it’s the bottoms of my feet or my legs and arms. I wonder if any of you experience this too? I did not read that was a side effect symptom but wonder if it might be? I am really having a miserable night.
Barbara K
Hi Barbara, sorry to hear of your rough night. I don't know if what I suffer from is RLS, but shortly after starting the gabapentin, I started to get extremely itchy feet that I have to move constantly and only at night. I thought it was odd as gabapentin is supposed to help neuropathy as well as RLS, so what's up with this? A friend who is a pharmacologist, said once you are mixing four and more prescription meds together, Dr.s have no way of figuring out what the interactions will be and one can end up with a whole bunch of side affects not expected. I am not sure if the itchy feet is connected to the gabapentin and I am thinking of going off that drug with the help of my doc too, to see if it is actualy helping me. My symptoms are sometimes barely there, but most nights there is a reasonable amount of discomfort. I hope your symptoms get better soon.
Sorry you're having one of those nights. I have been taking Requip for over a decade for my RLS. The burning sensations sound like neuropathy, I have that as well and it feels like a hot ember on your skin. It can be anywhere. Have you been diagnosed with any Arthritis? The arthritis will pinch off nerves as well causing that burning sensation. Some take Permax for RLS but Requip has always worked for me and I haven't grown 'immune' to it after this long either which I think is huge. One previous doctor put me on Gabapentin(Neurotin) for Fibro along with Tramadol. I had to take handfuls of Tramadol(Ultram) for it to help me at all. I now take 800mgs 4 times a day but I have other medical issues that benefit from the Neurotin as well. I think it is a wonderful drug and is one of the meds that help me through the day so I don't just lay in bed hurting.
Because Fibro patients build up tolerance to meds very quickly it is important to keep your doctor informed of your average pain level day to day so that they can adjust your dosage accordingly. I actually write down what my pain average is nightly because my Dr. asks me everytime, what my daily pain level has been. I can show her. Also write down what part of you hurt the most...whole body, legs, arms, head, back,shoulders, neck, feet etc? It helps me and Dr. address other areas that may have been skipped previously......blame fog!
I was told when I did a sleeping study eons ago that RLS is part of Fibro, they go hand in hand. Also they told me that RLS doesn't necessarily only affect the legs, it affects arms and hands as well. I was having these symptoms not just at night but all through the day and it was one of the big reasons I surrendered my drivers license. Going down the road and have both your legs and your arms start flying around uncontrolled. So very scarey! I gave my license up 7 years ago because of the medications/side affects. The RLS is what disabled me in the beginning and the more active I was on my feet the worse it became and still is. I have to choose my battles and gear up with meds before I begin any assault. Additionaly every time I am going to be in the car I take Requip so I don't put my feet through the floorboards.
Anywho, I hope some of this helps. Check with your doctor and see if he/she will try you out on it. Note of caution. Have something in your stomach whenever you take this or it will double U over when it hits your guts.
Be sweet to yourself!
Always~Laurel aka Northwoods G-Ma