josephwb2

I have struggled with Restless Leg for over 20 years and have finally found a method of control that works for me. I am posting this here in hopes that at least some component of what helps me might help someone else:

1. Mirapex is the drug that I get the best response from...I have tried several others and Mirapex works best for me. What has been the key in using this drug is finding dosing that is effective. I was on a .5 mg tab once a day but often did not get good control and taking even that much at one time caused some nasal congestion for me. Thru trial and error, I have discovered that 1 mg controls my symptoms greatly...BUT how I dose has made all the difference.

I take .25 mg 4 times a day...one dose when I get up in the morning...one dose at about 3PM, one dose around 7PM and one at 9PM. Dividing the dosing up this way has really helped control my symptoms a great deal and also I do not get the nasal stuffiness or stomach upset that can come along with Mirapex. I think taking that first dose in the AM has made a big difference. I know it seems like a pain to take 4 doses a day but once you get into a rhythm it is not too hard. If only there was a time-released Mirapex!

2. I have allergies and had taken antihistamines for years...I read somewhere that antihistamines can augment RLS, so I came off them and use a nasal cortisone and antihistamine eye drop to control my symptoms pretty well. It has made a difference...the few times I have HAD to take an antihistamine, my RLS seems to break thru pretty strongly.

3. I keep the caffeine limited...usually just a cup of coffee in the AM. I don't find that this is a big augmentor for me, but if I really have too much, the RLS symptoms come back.

So thats it. I am hoping that the dosing I have figured out helps others. Right now I have a script for 1 mg Mirapex tabs and I just break each tab into quarters. I will probably ask my Doctor for a new script to take 4 .25 mg tabs a day when this one is done.

Good luck to you all...!