Pramipexole and Weight Gain: What Users Say

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

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "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!!!"

• Kel...
• December 29, 2019

Pramipexole for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "If you have an eating disorder, substance or gambling/shopping addiction, or ADHD, especially if you are medicated, get a second opinion when you are prescribed this medication. Not only did this do nothing for my sleep, I began compulsive eating and reckless spending behaviors that I had mostly resolved through several years of hard work and therapy. The medication also made me narcoleptic, unable to feel my limbs or where my body was in space, and unable to focus. I gained twenty pounds in five weeks, and my TDEE is about 3,000 calories a day, so that is a lot of food. It triggered a relapse into bulimia nervosa. This medication made me utterly miserable, and the effects on my body and mind were horrendous; I am in a career path that relies on being physically conscious and having a certain body type. My doctor made a huge mistake in prescribing this to me, and I was incredibly lucky that my psychiatrist knew that it was wrong for me and was able to help me get off of it."

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

For Restless Legs Syndrome "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."

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

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "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."

• 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."

• Kat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 1, 2020

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been on pramipexole for about 3 years, starting out at one half of .25 mg tablet. Soon that did not work, and I had to increase it to .25 mg and then .50 mg. This drug definitely helps my RLS, but I cannot take it. I have gained almost 30 lbs, and I have not changed my diet. My restless legs are generated from my antidepressants and low iron ferritin. I have now decided to get off the antidepressant, even though it helps me a lot, but I cannot tolerate the RLS anymore. I know my road to feeling better will be difficult, but I've got to do it."

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

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "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."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 24, 2019

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Have had moderate RLS; pramipexole helps, but I may need a higher dose. Have been on it for about 2 years. Lately, I do seem to be eating more than normal; have put on 10 pounds in 3 months. My father had severe RLS."

• Nei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2022

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I started taking pramipexole 0.25 mg a month ago for my RLS. It works great, even helped me with my sleep disorder. The only thing since I started taking this medication is that I'm gaining weight. Has anyone had the same issue?"

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

Pramipexole for Restless Legs Syndrome "This medication caused me to gain weight, even though my diet stayed the same."