Ropinirole and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Ham...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2019

For Restless Legs Syndrome "After 18 with RLS, I visited a doctor and got a formal diagnosis and medication. 0.25 mg Ropinirole (worked like a miracle cure initially) and building up to 2 mg after 2 months. Started 2 mg and twice within 5 days I had collapsed/passed out/fainted. Therefore, I am now on 0.5 mg twice a day - dinner and bedtime. It is hit and miss - two reasonable sleeps per week - 5 awful evenings and nights. Can't sleep during the afternoon any longer as RLS dominates my legs almost immediately when lying down. Progressive syndrome (RLS) and for life possibly and building a tolerance to Ropinirole - you wonder where this will go next / end up! All my sympathies for those out there with RLS - it is so unknown/misunderstood."

• All...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 13, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been taking Ropinirole for over 10 years now. It literally saved my life. I was so sleep-deprived from RLS I wanted to end my life. At times I even had it in my arms. I have had RLS since I was a child and suffered for years in school and even college trying to sit still. Severe sleeping problems did not occur until my mid-thirties, but RLS was not treated as such then, and a few doctors tried to tell me it was depression. The antidepressants only escalated the problem. Finally, RLS became a realization to the medical world, and thank God we that suffer with it now have a chance at a normal life, even if it is on medication."

• All...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 13, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been taking Ropinirole for over 10 years now. It literally saved my life. I was so sleep-deprived from RLS I wanted to end my life. At times I even had it in my arms. I have had RLS since I was a child and suffered for years in school and even college trying to sit still. Severe sleeping problems did not occur until my mid-thirties, but RLS was not treated as such then, and a few doctors tried to tell me it was depression. The antidepressants only escalated the problem. Finally, RLS became a realization to the medical world, and thank God we that suffer with it now have a chance at a normal life, even if it is on medication."

• Rop...
• June 23, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Started ropinirole 0.5 mg before bedtime in 2012. Now, 4 years later, I have finally determined, by process of elimination of other contributing factors, that this drug was causing SEVERE muscle spasms/cramps over my entire body - from my face to my feet. Additionally, the addictive qualities affected me by eating habits. I found myself returning to the kitchen after a meal, on average, 4 times for a snack. This translates to overweight!! I began tapering off this nasty chemical and am losing weight, and within 3 days, my muscle issues are nearly gone... after 4 years of pain & suffering & lack of sleep due to muscle/leg cramps. This info is NOT provided with the prescription, internet searches show this is considered rare (1%)."

• Wpa...
• October 16, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been suffering from RLS since a young child, and during the past year, it had gotten so bad I was barely getting 3 hours of sleep a night. My dear husband was ready to hit me over the head with a baseball bat! My primary care physician just prescribed ropinirole (Requip generic) for me a week ago. I am on a low dose, .25 mg, taken 1.5 hours before bedtime. So far, this has been a game changer for me! I feel more rested and so much more energized in the morning. The little bit of nausea (the only side effect I have so far) I am suffering is a small price to pay for no RLS. I still have some insomnia and wake several times during the night, so I will up my dose to .50 mg and go from there. This drug has been a miracle for me!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2021

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have had RLS for about 15 years. I was taking ropinirole .025 at bedtime. It helped for a few years. That dose didn't help, so my doctor said I am going through augmentation. Now I am on 1 mg at night. It was great for a few months, the same thing happened! (Augmentation). Let me tell you, I am suffering as I write this comment. I can't sleep. I can't concentrate, it's the worst feeling ever. What should I do to get some relief?"

• Bma...
• March 12, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I began Ropinirole about 3 months ago. My RLS was out of control at bedtime and just sitting down for periods of time. I started with 1 mg before bed, then 2 mg, then 3 mg. I was SO SICK. Nauseated, using the restroom all the time, severe insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, confusion... However, most of these side effects have abated. My problem now is that right after I take the Ropinirole, my RLS gets horrible! It goes away after about an hour, but for that one hour, I'm in agony. Anyone else experience this? The restlessness is also in my arms. Ugh. Sometimes the insomnia persists. I'm also on clonazepam as needed."

• Pha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 5, 2015

Ropinirole for Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been on Requip for about 6 years and have a severe case of RLS. My leg spasms have worn out many sheets. I would have to say I have a love/hate relationship with Requip. I take a 5 mg tablet 1 hour before bed. Almost like clockwork, 22 to 25 minutes later, I feel miserable with a constant feeling of the need to puke, but I don't. I have always had insomnia, which got worse on Requip. I have been able to address the insomnia with trazodone, and it works well. I have read others' posts, and I think I am going to talk with my doctor about spreading it out in 3 different times to take it. In the past 6 months, I have begun to have twitching in my arms, shoulders, and wrists."

• Anonymous
• February 29, 2012

Ropinirole for Restless Legs Syndrome "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, it gave me insomnia, which came in the form of falling asleep relatively quickly, but I would wake up approximately every two hours in the middle of very vivid dreams. Each time I would wake up, it would take me a good five minutes to realize where exactly I was and that I was semi-awake in the middle of a vivid dream; then it would take me a good half hour to fall asleep again, and the cycle would repeat. The side effects definitely outweighed the benefits, and I stopped using after two nights. Now I'm on Gabapentin, which hopefully will work a bit better for me."

• Sun...
• January 6, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I'm 61 and started getting RLS symptoms during my 30s, starting as just tingling and progressing over the years into full-blown leg kicking. It would start every evening while watching TV, or any time I was sitting for more than an hour -- in the movie, on an airplane, etc. Previous doc had me on Klonopin, but current doc said (generic) Requip is better as the side effects for long-term use are supposedly less. I've been on 0.25 mg for only two months, but the kicking seldom even starts now. I even forgot to take it one night. I have noticed some insomnia, but that isn't new for me. I've been taking Benadryl at night; that seems to help. I've not had any nausea or other symptoms. Fingers crossed that I don't have to keep upping the dose."

• Anx...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 21, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Works well for RLS, but I have been having increasing anxiety issues and sleep problems. Not taken it for 2 days and already feel so much better. I have just been put on Topamax for migraines that has also been shown effective for RLS, and so far no return of symptoms, just feeling better!"

• she...
• March 10, 2015

Ropinirole for Restless Legs Syndrome "Requip stopped the restless legs, but caused severe insomnia for me, which defeated the purpose for taking it."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2009

Ropinirole for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "I couldn't sleep at all when taking Requip!"