Managing RLS / PLMD during pregnancy - Restless Leg Syndrome Message Board

Zazzaz · 08-24-2003, 12:31 PM

Hello,

We're looking forward to starting a family soon - my only concern is that I've read that pregnancy can make RLS/PLMD much worse (or even show up for the first time in women who had never previously experienced it). Chronic sleep deprivation makes the best of us feel pretty insane - and it's not the state I want to be in as I welcome a new baby home!

I already have a pretty severe case, for which I take mirapex. I understand that I will probably have to quit the mirapex during pregnancy - and the only alternative I've seen suggested during pregnancy is methadone - which doesn't sound good.

What have other soon-to-be or current moms found helpful for managing RLS/PLMD during pregancy?

Thanks ~ Z

luckykoi · 10-16-2003, 05:53 PM

I am pregant and have SEVERE PLMD and am on Mirapex. I could not stop taking it as I wake up every two minutes all night long without it. Then I start to catch every cold and flu and infection imaginable.

I was getting by on .5 mg of Mirapex pre-pregnancy, now I am up to 3 mg and still amd tired all the time. Blood volume and metabolism increase in pregnancy so you need more meds.

I've had a level II ultra-sound and the baby is fine. Lots of moms have taken Bromocriptine while pregnant without ill effect to the baby..next to nothing is known about Mirapex in pregnacy but generally Bromocriptine and the other older ergo derived drugs in the same class are considered to come with more risk in general.

I am having a horrible time with throwing up thanks to this med and pregnancy.. normally I never throw up.. did not throw up once during my first pregnacy..

Lshcat · 11-06-2003, 07:24 AM

I just had a beautiful baby girl and with a severe case of RLS. Ask your Dr. to prescribe a mild narcotic for nights when you need it. I took Tylenol #3 (with codeine) and did great. This drug saves me. Also, I want to add that my case got less severe while pregnant. Maybe due to the massive prenatal vitamins, or that I was so tired from all the extra weight and "work" so maybe you'll get lucky too. Narcotics are given in huge doses - like Percocet - even during labor and delivery and have not been reported to cause damage. Good luck! And the lack of sleep you get now is NOTHING compared to the lack of sleep with a newborn!! Consider all this insomnia "training"! I did!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zazzaz

Hello,

We're looking forward to starting a family soon - my only concern is that I've read that pregnancy can make RLS/PLMD much worse (or even show up for the first time in women who had never previously experienced it). Chronic sleep deprivation makes the best of us feel pretty insane - and it's not the state I want to be in as I welcome a new baby home!

I already have a pretty severe case, for which I take mirapex. I understand that I will probably have to quit the mirapex during pregnancy - and the only alternative I've seen suggested during pregnancy is methadone - which doesn't sound good.

What have other soon-to-be or current moms found helpful for managing RLS/PLMD during pregancy?

Thanks ~ Z

Zazzaz · 11-11-2003, 02:04 PM

Thanks for the comments.

Mirapex is a class C medication, which means that animal test have indicated that it might be a problem during pregnancy - but that no studies have been done to confirm its effect one way or another.

I saw an OB/GYN last week. He told me that as long as I stop taking the Mirapex at the very first chance after conception (basically, 2.5 weeks after ovulation that results in conception), that it shouldn't effect the baby in any way. But he really stressed his belief that there was only a 2.5 week window of opportunity in which you could safely stop taking the med. He thought the timing was really essental, because of the develpmental timeline of the baby. Given how critical the 2.5 week period is, he recommended that I use a basal thermometer when I'm trying to conceive, so that I know exactly when I'm ovulating, and I know to take a pregancy test at the right time. Of course, this idea hinges upon Mirapex being cleared out of the body in 24 hours after the final dose is taken.

So, it sounds like staying on the med. while tring to get pregnant is OK, so long as you know to go of it as the first sign of conception. I'm glad to hear that some have had OK experiences with staying on the med through out pregnacy, as well. Personally, I'm not very comfortable with staying on it while pregnant. And I'm not sure about having it in my system while trying to conceive either. I've noticed that when I go off the Mirapex, it takes about two full weeks for the effects to wear off. I don't think it's cleared in 24 hours. So I think that even if I stopped taking it at the 2.5 week mark, it would linger in my body past the critical time, and possibly cause problems in the fetal development.

I'm just not sure what's best. I really do not look forward to being unmedicated. I don't actually have much of a problem with RLS, I have more of a problem with PLMD. The PLMD makes me move around all night, so I always wake up really stiff, sore, and exhausted. When I'm not medicated, I have no stamina and I feel stiff, sore, and exhausted all day. But I guess I'd rather deal with nine months of severe RLS/PLMD than potentially harming the baby. I just don't know how seriously to take the effect of the Mirapex.

I'd still appreciate hearing from others who have thought this through.

Thanks ~ Z

Zazzaz · 04-18-2004, 07:56 AM

Hi,

I'm bumping this thread because I'm still hoping for more info. Any one else have any ideas?

Thanks for your help ~ Z