Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome User Reviews (Page 5)

• Pep...
• January 30, 2016

"I started on pramipexole hydrochloride 6 years ago, and at first, suffered from jerking all the time. My head would always jerk to the left, my shoulders would jerk up and down, and my legs shook all the time if I stood still or sat down. The recommended dosage didn't have any effect on the RLS at all, and slowly the dose was raised. The jerking subsided after a few weeks, and I was able to lead a happy life until a couple of months ago when it stopped working. It was wonderful for 6 years, then, over about a month, it stopped having any effect whatsoever."

• Dua...
• May 11, 2016

"I take pramipexole for RLS caused by Parkinson's disease. It does work very well for the RLS, however, I did have some issues. While on the drug, I had purchasing problems instead of gambling problems. I think it's affecting a region in my brain that makes it difficult to say 'No' to issues like gambling and shopping. I knew what it was when my doctor asked me, 'Are you having problems with shopping and spending money?'. That's when I made the connection. My doctor is switching me off of pramipexole to sertraline, which is a drug for Parkinson's. While stepping down from pramipexole, I ran into sleep problems. I did not fall asleep for about 5 days! Wide awake! 5 days! I'm not going to use pramipexole. Bad drug."

• KZa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2021

Pramipexole "My RLS came out of nowhere in 2/2020. It was bothering me 24/7. I was constantly kicking people. No one wanted to sit next to me. It was embarrassing. By 6/2020, I had had enough! So I saw a neurologist who started me on Mirapex. After a month or so, he would increase the dose. At one time I was taking 0.25 mg, 3 of them, 3 times a day. It really helped me. I now take 2 tablets twice a day. It still bothers me slightly when I get in bed, but once I'm asleep, I'm fine. I have been eating more sweets than usual and put on a little weight. Don't know if this is the Mirapex or the fact that I stopped drinking."

• Ali...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 1, 2016

"Made my RLS more tolerable for about a year, then gradually made it worse. I saw some studies that called this augmentation. I was on a very low dose, so I just quit taking it. It's only been a couple of weeks, but I'm doing better off the drug than on it."

• Mel...
• October 10, 2015

"After 15 years of nightly Vicodin, and a false start with ropinirole (Requip; it gave me horrible hot flashes, and I'm a guy!), we tried pramipexole. That was my magic bullet! After two months on 0.25 milligrams nightly, my doctor asked me to up it to 0.365 mg, and that is where I have stayed. I take it an hour before bed only. It has been a miracle for me as far as RLS!"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2011

Pramipexole "I have been taking Mirapex for a couple of weeks now. It doesn't seem to be helping that much just yet. I was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome about six years ago, which was a problem at nighttime. In October, I suddenly started having severe symptoms during the day, so I went to my doctor, and she put me on Mirapex 0.125 mg a day. I have noticed that I will suddenly feel very sleepy at times while I've just been completely alert, which I see might be from the medication. Hopefully, with time, it will relieve my symptoms for good!"

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 28, 2016

"This is in regard to my 83-year-old father-in-law (FIL) and his taking pramipexole. He was switched to this med from ropinirole due to the same issues I am about to discuss. The fine print of side effects is what he, and consequently my husband and I, are now dealing with. '...strong urges (such as increased gambling, increased sexual urges)...' Oh boy, this doesn't even come close. He does not see the problem, but when he is on either of these meds, he is so far past being a dirty old man. I am shocked he's not been arrested yet. He is also belligerent and cannot be reasoned with. I am in the process of trying to get him changed again to something else. So, just a warning: if anyone sees this in yourself or someone else taking this."

• Anonymous
• October 31, 2015

"I took this drug for the first time last night for my RLS. It was the worst night I have had in a long time. I was hot and sweaty all night, I threw up twice and only got a couple hours of sleep. The headache I have is terrible. I will not be using this again."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2013

"Started using pramipexole when weaning from zolpidem at the sleep clinic. Long-term insomnia complicated by shift work, school, age, and family history. Pramipexole at 0.125 mg/qd worked for about 9 months. Less effective if taken with food. Now, after a year, about 3 times a week, the first dose is insufficient, so I take a second, and that works. No side effects in gastrointestinal or balance/reaction time."

• Wil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2025

"I suffered from RLS for around 2 years. It just came out of the blue. Going to bed was a nightmare, knowing my legs would start. Having to walk around half the night, then back to bed, trying to get some sleep, the most horrible feeling I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. A warm bath helped a bit, but not always. Then having to get up in the morning, and I was so exhausted. So, the doctor prescribed pramipexole, best drug ever. I take it early evening, so no more RLS, and I have no side effects."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2010

Pramipexole "I took Mirapex for a couple of months with my severe restless leg syndrome. It seemed to help, but I would wake up in the middle of the night and in the morning before work and have severe nausea and vomiting. I am now taking Requip, and it has been doing the same thing."

• NAN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2016

"Taking pramipexole for a few months, I began to black out without being aware of it. Falling asleep, especially at church or any time I was quiet. Compulsive gambling, shopping. Messed my heart up. I started having a very fast, irregular heartbeat. I have had six heart ablations because of this drug. It probably works great for some, but it is the most dangerous medication I have taken. Ruined my life. I can't walk at the mall shopping for more than two hours. Cannot bowl, play golf, not even exercise. I had to research it on the internet before I was sure what was causing all of these side effects, and there had been lawsuits earlier (too late for me). There was one in Canada at the time of my experience. I told the pharmacist about it, and she said she didn't believe it."

• oll...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2025

"I have suffered from Restless Leg Syndrome since the age of 14, now I am 65. Mine has always been accompanied by fibromyalgia in my legs, which in addition to RLS would ache deeply to the bone. I was put on amitriptyline for over 30 years, which helped at the beginning but quickly stopped working. I suffered greatly, and life was hell. A year ago, I asked my doctor for gabapentin, but she put me on pramipexole instead. At the first dose, I got so sick to my stomach and dizzy that I stopped taking it. I continued to suffer, so I tried taking it again. The first few days were rough with the nausea and dizziness, but I kept taking it until those side effects stopped, and for the first time in 51 years, my legs were calm!! It was truly a miracle. Side effects now are just constipation and sleep disturbance from having to urinate often, but it's worth it. My dose had to be increased to 1 mg, but it's still doing its job. This drug has saved my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 15, 2016

"The medication worked when I first started using it. I had a few side effects like dizziness upon standing and slightly blurred vision. After taking the medicine for over two years, the effectiveness for my RLS has waned considerably. I rarely have a night when I can sleep or even sit in a chair and watch television without my legs jumping. I am constantly having to change positions or get up and walk or basically try anything to alleviate the problem, which doesn't always help."

• Rob...
• September 2, 2014

Pramipexole "I have taken this medicine before, and it made my Restless Legs Syndrome much worse. For over 25 years, I have taken Percocet. I may have to go back to that. I read somewhere that side effects can last for up to a year, I hope not."

• Bir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 31, 2022

Pramipexole "Was prescribed this drug for RLS. Suffering for over 30 years. Was trying to switch from Rivotril. I’m not sure what happened, but I watched a commercial with slot machines. Ended up gambling $80,000 and ruining my future, present, and past. Was never advised that Mirapex had a side effect listed as pathological gambling and that it could be an issue, and of course it was too late by the time I got the courage to tell my family. Been back on Rivotril since, suffering probably forever as the dosage isn’t high enough anymore and I don’t want to increase. I exercise, sometimes making it worse. I don’t wish RLS on anyone and be careful on Mirapex."

• mic...
• February 7, 2010

Pramipexole "I have severe RLS that is a problem during the day as well as nighttime. I take Mirapex 0.25 mg twice a day, which greatly increases my comfort levels and the ability to hold relatively still. Note: I am confined to a wheelchair, with idiopathic polyneuropathy, along with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (and numerous additional diagnoses), and currently take 29 other prescription medicines, so I am unable to comment on side effects. I have tried other drugs for RLS, including Lyrica, Klonopin, Neurontin, and clonidine. For me, Mirapex and Lyrica relieve RLS far better than the others."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2015

"This is a godsend. Quite literally. I suffered restless legs from the age of 25, increasing from a minor irritation at nights out at the theatre to a complete nightmare for sleeping. Pramipexole stops it. 100%. What a relief. And the only significant side effect has been some weariness during the day. I usually take one, very rarely two (at 4:00 pm then at 10:00 pm)."

• Nic...
• February 6, 2015

"I have taken pramipexole and Requip for restless legs syndrome. Both are equally effective for me. There are other very good side effects that I get. Antidepressant qualities that I didn't need, but I actually like. Also, the sexual sides have been overwhelmingly positive. I have had no negative sides after the first few days. Oh, and my legs lay there like rocks and shut up instead of having to get up and walk around three times before falling asleep."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2017

"My family doctor prescribed Pramipexole for me about 2 years ago after I had been having awful problems with restless legs for a few weeks. A few weeks after I started this med, I began to do a lot of shopping online, the UPS truck was a daily sight at my home, plus the mailman and another delivery truck. I was not getting any relief, talked with my doctor, who referred me to a neurologist. He asked me the first thing, 'How's the shopping?' He prescribed generic Sinemet, which is not working either. I have now got arm jerks, some difficulty walking. What is the answer?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2025

"Pramipexole not only shut off my legs from overacting, but I no longer sleep with the TV on to keep my brain thinking from overacting. For me, it's a wonder drug. I can now use my CPAP without flip-flopping all night. I really think I was born having RLS."

• Ann...
• August 31, 2016

"Pramipexole has worked great for me. Can't live without them. I take 4 a day. Would like to know, has anyone tried a diet plan to help restless legs, as everyone does not like taking medication? Please reply."

• Kat...
• March 22, 2024

Pramipexole "I’ve been taking Mirapex for ten years, without side effects, and it has changed my life. I can sleep, take long car rides, both of which were impossible before discovering this medication. I’m so sorry for those who have experienced changes in thoughts and behaviors, but for me, I wouldn’t want to be without it."

• The...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 7, 2017

"Pramipexole helped me sleep with RLS. The problem is, I'm an addicted gambler. I have been to rehab. I still gamble. It has ruined my life. This should never be used by someone who has gambling or overshopping tendencies, as it is a side effect and can make it a whole lot worse. I have recently started taking cannabis, and it takes the RLS away. Pramipexole/gambling...makes me want to give up on living."

• Boy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2024

Pramipexole "I've had RLS for years, and it kept getting worse, to the point I was only sleeping a few hours a night. I finally mentioned this to my doctor, and she prescribed this medication. From the first dose until now, I've had no symptoms of RLS. Sometimes I feel tired in the day, especially if I go to bed late. This is a very effective medication for me."