Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2009

Pramipexole "I have been using Mirapex for two years for severe RLS. Mine just showed up suddenly without warning and honestly barely slept for two months. I went to numerous doctors who tried every type of sleeping pill, including Ambien. I still didn't sleep, and with the Ambien, I actually got into my car and drove, and don't have much memory of it until I hit the back of another car! Finally, I was placed on Mirapex, and it is a miracle drug. I literally was feeling suicidal until that was prescribed. For me, it really needs to be taken early in the evening because if not, I have problems because it takes a while to take effect."

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2012

Pramipexole "I have had restless legs syndrome for many years. The first medicine I started to take was Klonopin, which worked okay, but about 10 years ago I changed to Mirapex. It is such a great medicine for this problem that if I happen to forget to take it, as I do a few times a year, I totally freak out and panic. Once I was on a trip and realized I'd forgotten this medicine and was in a panic. Without this medicine, my nights would all be a nightmare. With this drug, I have no problems with my legs and no side effects. Thanks to whoever came up with this miracle."

• Mam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 21, 2017

Pramipexole "I have had RLS for nearly 10 years. I have taken Requip, which didn't do anything. Now I take Mirapex. I started out on 0.125, which did nothing. I moved up to 0.5 mg and have taken that dose for about 9 years. Now, my legs and sometimes my arms go crazy on me during the day. I can't ride very long in a car because it drives me insane how my legs feel. I get very frustrated fast and become agitated. I often tell my husband I would rather cut my legs off than feel this way. I went to the doctor today, he moved my dose to 1 mg. I pray this will help me. I am also suffering from compulsive gambling and weight gain of 25 plus pounds. We need a cure for this horrible disease!!!"

• Meg...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2016

Pramipexole "While my RLS inevitably was in the evening, I also had it during the day. My dose slowly increased to 1 mg three times a day. Two years ago, I fell asleep while driving, then later I was told I was 'napping' for seconds to 10+ minutes even while conversing. Last month, typing at the table, I 'found myself' standing over my chair reading something I had not typed, and was frightened! Then, I was working in my kitchen -- then was in another room about to sit down, landing hard on the kitchen floor. Have tried 2 newer meds with no RLS relief. Now decreasing Mirapex, take 0.5 tid (half previous dose), and today trying twice daily. My neurologist is trying alternative meds, and so far nothing works but pramipexole, so I am decreasing the dose every few days."

• Wor...
• April 7, 2008

Pramipexole "In the past, I took Mirapex for moderate-to-severe Restless Legs Syndrome. It was 100% effective in eliminating all symptoms. I had no side effects. I currently take REQUIP which is also 100% effective. I switched to Requip to take a drug holiday from Mirapex, upon the recommendation of my neurologist."

• Cat...
• November 14, 2015

Pramipexole "I rated this based on how the medicine worked in the beginning. However, over time my symptoms became worse, would happen during the day, and I had to take the medication around 6 pm to be effective by 10 pm. I am now on a low dose of Tylenol 3 that I take 30 minutes before bed. In the three months I have been on this regimen, my daytime symptoms have disappeared. I have not had to increase dosage or felt the need to take the medicine at bedtime (major concern of doctors is becoming addicted to anything with codeine/opiate). Also tried gabapentin. It was a nightmare."

• thi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2013

Pramipexole "I started getting Restless Legs Syndrome in 2010, it caught me off guard. I was taking Requip, and that worked for a while, but I found that I was getting leg shaking during the day. Since I sit at a computer all day, this was very annoying and would actually interfere with my job. So I started taking the Requip during the day to alleviate the shaking, that made me very tired. I went to a neurologist, and he changed my script to Mirapex. The first night was wonderful, the next full day, I was sleepy. He had put me on 0.5 tabs 3 times a day. I found that if I cut a tab into quarters, I could take 1/4 during the day with minimal sleepiness, and 1/2 tab at night when I wanted to sleep really well. So I ended up taking the pill just 2 times a day."

• MsQ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 5, 2020

"I have taken pramipexole for decades. I was unaware of any side effects until I read the other reviews. One possible side effect: I may enjoy shopping too much. Also, my prescribed dosage has increased steadily through the years. I currently take 1.5 mg at bedtime. As it is not the extended-release variety, and if I am already suffering, I chew the pill. Sometimes, I have to take additional measures to stop the torment. A hot shower may help, a nocturnal walk around the yard, or to sleep someplace where I usually don't sleep. Sometimes I get no relief at all. I can't get my comments to be submitted. What a waste of my time."

• rob...
• June 29, 2017

Pramipexole "I was on Mirapex for RLS for about 11 years. At first it got much worse. I had uncontrolled arm and leg movement when relaxed or sleeping. I did not get sleep. Finally went to a neurologist. He started me on 300 mg of Gabapentin and worked up to 1200 mg at night and 300 mg in the morning and afternoon. Then I started to reduce Mirapex. I went through severe withdrawal for 5 days and moderate for another 5 days. I now can sleep and the uncontrolled movement is minimal. My neurologist said that Mirapex was the cause of my worsening condition."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2017

Pramipexole "I have had RLS for years. I dealt with it for a long while until it started doing it during the day and started creeping into my arms. Got put on Mirapex to attempt to control it. It was the most awful thing I've ever taken. Lost huge chunks of memory, couldn't keep up with conversations, hallucinations, and major insomnia. I couldn't sleep before, but to be given a 'wonder drug' and have it exacerbate the situation was beyond bearable. No thanks."

• wad...
• June 1, 2010

Pramipexole "For nearly ten years, I struggled with restless leg syndrome, a truly miserable and frustrating condition. The only 'treatment' I found to be effective was to get up and walk about. However, between about midnight and 6:00 a.m., this becomes quite inconvenient. Soaking in water as hot as I could stand worked only for a few seconds. Relief from massages was also extremely temporary. Initially, I tried Requip, which seemed like it might be helping a teeny bit, but left much to be desired. Later, a neurologist switched me to Mirapex. Following a 'breaking in' period, at long last, I found relief from this miserable condition. As long as I take my daily doses, I have relief. So far, so good."

• jac...
• October 31, 2010

Pramipexole "I did not develop RLS until my early 70s. Began with 0.5 mg Mirapex once daily, went to twice daily (same dosage), then finally to 1 mg twice daily, been on it for a year now and is working fine. Tell you what though, DON'T let your script run out and have to wait. You won't like it! It's like going off something 'cold turkey'. I did once and had to wait for 4 days. Very unpleasant experience."

• Lis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 3, 2019

"I've been on pramipexole now for about 2 1/2 years. At first, I thought thank God something is helping me get this miserable affliction under control while I sleep. However, as the months passed, I realized that I was having horrible side effects. Somnolence all day, aches and pains that weren't there before, insomnia, and the stomach pain is unbearable at times. It's taken me a while to pin this stuff on this drug, but I've had a lot of tests which all came back negative, so it must be the drug. It helps the RLS, yes, but the side effects are horrible, and I don't know what else to take. Either way, life is hard. Very sad. I've also lost a lot of hair to the point it's embarrassing. I'm on .25 mg a day. I've gained about 15 pounds too."

• old...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 13, 2012

Pramipexole "Mirapex (Pramipexole) is truly a wonder, it takes away 99% of my symptoms if taken early evening. I've used it for 10 years or more now, and it hasn't failed me until lately, as my dose is now at 1 mg at night and 0.5 mg in the morning. My symptoms do come up early enough to get me out of bed in the morning once in a rare while."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2008

Pramipexole "Mirapex has worked like a miracle for me. I can go on long trips again without constant leg 'stretching/wiggling/massaging/exercising/deep-knee-bending' to take away the terrible sensations in my legs! I also do not 'twitch' and 'kick' in bed, like I used to."

• Anonymous
• February 29, 2012

Pramipexole "This somewhat reduced my restless legs syndrome (which occurs every other day and is enough to keep me up at night and be bothersome); however, this gave me insomnia, specifically causing me trouble falling asleep, and once I was finally able to fall asleep, I would wake up once every two hours or so."

• wig...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2014

Pramipexole "This has been extremely useful in stopping my restless legs at night. If I happen to stop or run out, I'm experiencing the restless legs again. I hate that feeling and have to get up and shake my legs. It is a feeling I simply can't stand!"

• nan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 31, 2018

"I have had RLS since I was around 15 that I first remember having that weird feeling in my legs. I have tried Requip, it made me sick to my stomach at about week 3. I have been on Pramipexole since 2002, and to me, it's a GODSEND! I love feeling NORMAL. I take it every day, .5 mg morning and evening. But two items caught my eye in reading these reviews. 1. The shopping compulsion? I wondered where that was coming from. It makes total sense now, but still, I love feeling normal, and I do not want to stop taking it. I'll fight the shopping. Second item, people made comments that they have to keep taking more and more. I have been on it for 16 years, and my script has never increased. I have it in my arms also, but find no need to take a higher dose. I usually feel it because I missed a dose. This is my number one med, I will not stop taking it."

• vel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 24, 2012

Pramipexole "I have been taking Mirapex for 7 or 8 years, I am now up to 0.50 to 0.75. It has worked well for me, except I have gained a lot of weight, and now I am having augmentation, meaning my legs start jerking earlier in the day and my arms are starting to have it. I can't increase it much more, too much fatigue. I am concerned about what I am going to take now. I've tried other things that don't work, so beware of dopamine agonists. After so many years, you become immune to it, unfortunately. I could not afford it if I had not qualified for the patient assistance program, I don't have insurance."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2016

Pramipexole "I have had RLS for years, but since going off clonazepam 1 year ago, it increased so severely afternoon, evening, and night that I was going crazy. Pramipexole at 2mg finally stopped it. I tried other meds and all suggestions I could find on the Internet. For about 2 months, I have been taking iron, more magnesium with my calcium, folic acid, a good multi, and hope it is helping. The pramipexole has been a lifesaver. I do not have insurance, but I get my meds at Universal Drugstore, an online drugstore in Canada. The pramipexole comes from the UK and is really cheap compared to all the prices elsewhere."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 17, 2017

Pramipexole "I have tried most of them. Mirapex works well, and I have had no side effects. I tried to stop all my meds that I've taken - some for 40 years - so I could see how bad the condition had become over 40 years. It was terrible, I can't imagine surviving life had Mirapex, Sinemet, and Clonopin not come along. Opioids work well too. Cannabis helps a lot."

• lon...
• September 20, 2011

Pramipexole "Severe restless legs syndrome with periodic limb movement for over 45 yrs. Clonazepam worked fine for a long time, then became less effective. Doctor added Mirapex - it worked BUT: I gained 60 lbs in 3 yrs from obsessive eating, charged a lot of money to my credit cards due to obsessive spending (both stated side effects), AND fell asleep without warning, mostly at night (twice while driving), so I tapered off. Have lost most of the weight, paying off the bills, but need more than clonazepam."

• Old...
• December 28, 2015

Pramipexole "On Requip several years when it stopped working. Switched to Mirapex 1 mg and had immediate relief. Now, 6 months later, RLS back for 3 to 4 hours at bedtime. Also, some symptoms during the day, so sometimes take 0.5 mg during the day with some relief. No significant side effects."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2020

"Completely knocks out my RLS like a charm. My RLS had been getting worse due to my SSRI treatment, so my doctor prescribed pramipexole in a relatively small 0.125 mg dose when needed before bedtime. 'When needed' is a tough decision because, from what I’ve read, the drug could take up to 3 hours to kick in. But, for me, I have normally found relief in less than an hour. The problem is that I feel like a zombie the next day. Drowsy, cloudy head, sluggish for most of the day after taking it. I’ve started breaking the tablets in half to take down the dosage even more. It still works, but the side effects are still there. I’m currently searching for another path towards RLS relief with a different medication."

• Ano...
• March 13, 2009

Pramipexole "I take half a pill around supper time so I can sleep. My restless leg syndrome usually kicks up right before bed. I wouldn't be able to sleep without it. It has been wonderful to just go to bed and really rest."