Pramipexole and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Luc...
• September 23, 2019

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "Doctor recommended this after trying gabapentin (in which gabapentin was very helpful, just made me extremely tired throughout the day). First day I took it, hit me like a train. I could tell my body was getting uneasy, so I quickly got myself ready for bed because I wasn’t sure what I was in for. The second I laid in bed, extreme nausea and dizziness. I was waiting for my food to come right back up that I had just eaten. My body was just taking a toll, I had to call into work the next day because I still felt sick when I woke up. Then, after reading other reviews, I decided that was the last time I would ever take that pill again."

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2015

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "I'm writing from the UK! The main difference is that all our medication is free for over 65s and some others. I've been on Co-codamol (apologies, iPad won't let me spell this correctly), Tramadol, and Gabapentin. My restlessness has been getting worse and worse for years, and a couple of weeks ago, I kicked a hole in my bed sheet during the night. So, a few days ago, I saw my GP, and he stopped the Tramadol (I'd been tolerating it well), and last night I took my first Mirapex. Oh, what a horrible experience! I felt dreadfully ill during the night, and when I got up this morning, I felt as if I had the flu. I was dizzy, sneezy, and in a cold sweat. Now I'm not sure whether to continue - maybe the side effects will settle."

• ste...
• September 17, 2010

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "Military doctors originally put me on Klonopin for my restless leg syndrome. The medication was a total godsend! My only noticeable side effect was dizziness if I stood up too fast. Once we retired from the Army, however, new doctor, new medicines. I got stuck with a neurologist with a 'complex,' who told me I could take Mirapex and have nerve damage testing, or I could just have the nerve testing and go without. Great. So I took the Mirapex. Over about six weeks, I've gained weight (not normal for me), forgotten LARGE amounts of things. I sleep LOUSY and still have the 'twitches.' The doctor finally listened and put me back on Klonopin but didn't warn me about switching from one to the other. I've now been awake for over 24 hours, only catnapping in 15-minute increments."

• ECa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2020

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I took pramipexole for 9 days. It made me drowsy, dizzy, and very hungry. And it didn't help my leg twitching. My doctor told me I could stop taking it, so I haven't for 3 days, and I'm still unusually hungry."

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

For Restless Legs Syndrome "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

For Restless Legs Syndrome "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."

• sic...
• February 11, 2021

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been taking Sifrol for 4 months for RLS caused by another med I'm on. It certainly worked. I've just weaned off it after speaking to a pharmacist (don't they often know way more than doctors, by the way?) who said I could try magnesium tablets/day for RLS, as he had many patients who had success with this. Thinking it would not work, I tried it, and to my amazement, it worked the very first night. I realize everyone is different, and it may or may not work for you. I'm experiencing severe withdrawals from Sifrol, the most disturbing is insomnia. I'm getting about 2 hours of sleep a night. Also foggy-headed, angry, and dizzy, headaches. For goodness' sake, GPs please, please, please don't just stick us on meds when you haven't done your research on less harmful things that may help. Yes, I'm angry... but grateful to have found that pharmacist. Once these withdrawals are over, I'll be even more grateful."

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 31, 2018

For Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "This has turned my nights around. At last, after years of troubled sleep, I now get at least 6 hours and sometimes 7 or 8. I started on 1 tablet (lowest dose) about 3 hours prior to going to bed. I reduced to half a tablet due to dizzy spells in the day (was initially coming off them due to the dizziness but found that the half dose relieved the spasms/symptoms without getting dizzy) for a few months but am now on the lowest dose of 1 tablet a day."

• JVR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

For Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "Mirapex worked at first, then every night is different. My thighs feel as if they’re “buzzing.” I have PLMD since 2004 and had 2 sleep studies that show I have PLMD. With Mirapex, I have worsening twitching of my upper limbs, head, fingers, shoulders, and teeth chattering. I’m currently on two 0.025 mg tablets along with 600 mg of gabapentin. It is not enough. I was on Klonopin initially, but my doctor is weaning me off of it from 2 mg 2x day to 1 mg 1x day. I found that Klonopin was better. I need to call my doctor to either increase my Mirapex or give me another drug! I’m irritable, takes me a long time to wake up, wobbly, etc. Plus I’m menopausal! Not fun when, even though I’m tired and am ready to fall asleep, the PLMD kicks in even though my dosage has increased!"

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2020

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been on pramipexole for 6 weeks now. It worked almost immediately for my restless legs and helped with my insomnia. The only side effects I'm having are a fuzzy head the next day, forgetfulness, dizziness now and again, and tiredness in the day sometimes. I'm weighing this up against the insomnia and the restless legs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2023

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Awful. It gave me vomiting and dizziness, and it didn’t reduce any symptoms of RLS."

• Ray...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2018

For Parkinson's Disease "Bad dreams. Nausea, throwing up. Dizzy."