Tryptamite
Bluelighter
I don't think rapid detox really works for long term habits. You mean get knocked out and have your system flushed out with an antagonist, right?
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
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OD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic
Opioids Restless Leg Syndrome
- Thread starter kunmo
- Start date
Toz
Bluelighter
I have had this symptom for over a year now since quitting opioids. It does not get better. Another dose of opiates relieves me of all problems, I've tried. So does benzos and gabapentin. I do not wish to use any of these drugs, what are my alternatives?
Non-addicting meds only please.
Non-addicting meds only please.
Last edited:
StartedHydro
Bluelighter
- Joined
- May 29, 2006
- Messages
- 677
Only thing I have found to relieve RLS(arms) are opiates/opioids. I know since you have battled addiction it's not really an option. If it were I'd consider tramadol or very very very low dose buprenorphine, maybe kratom but since kratom is so short acting it would be a very last resort.
I mention tramadol because it has a very very low abuse liability, doesn't really give a hardcore euphoria, and rather long duration of action, and tolerance is slow to develop. If you could just take 50-100 mg of it a few hours before sleep and stuck to that and only on nights where RLS flared up you would be fine. The only time tramadol can cause serious withdrawals is coming off 400 mg + daily for long periods of time. I have took tramadol for months at 50-100 mg daily and when stopped no WDs.
Buprenorphine due to its long, long duration of action. Very real that you might be able to dose once every two days if you have RLS bad nightly. If its fleeting you could just dose in microgram range for significant relief. Once again since a partial agonist with a ceiling abuse can't get way out of hand. If you stay at very low doses quoting buprenorphine is rather painless. One strip could last an entire month.
Other than that, I don't think there r to many options. If something other than opiates worked they'd have a best seller on their hands as RLS(arms) can drive a person to madness. It's one of the most god awful sensations.
I mention tramadol because it has a very very low abuse liability, doesn't really give a hardcore euphoria, and rather long duration of action, and tolerance is slow to develop. If you could just take 50-100 mg of it a few hours before sleep and stuck to that and only on nights where RLS flared up you would be fine. The only time tramadol can cause serious withdrawals is coming off 400 mg + daily for long periods of time. I have took tramadol for months at 50-100 mg daily and when stopped no WDs.
Buprenorphine due to its long, long duration of action. Very real that you might be able to dose once every two days if you have RLS bad nightly. If its fleeting you could just dose in microgram range for significant relief. Once again since a partial agonist with a ceiling abuse can't get way out of hand. If you stay at very low doses quoting buprenorphine is rather painless. One strip could last an entire month.
Other than that, I don't think there r to many options. If something other than opiates worked they'd have a best seller on their hands as RLS(arms) can drive a person to madness. It's one of the most god awful sensations.
TooOldForThis
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2013
- Messages
- 109
I went to a sleep specialist a few years ago, and was put on Mirapex for RLS. Unfortunately, I could not stay on it due to side effects. Definitely talk to your doc. There are non opiod options.
Why doesn't anyone on this thread have constipation from the Imodium?
I tried everything else written about here for RLS except Imodium. For the above concerns.
Unfortunately I have also developed benign essential tremors. Not only do my legs (sometimes arms too) bother me greatly at night, but my head twitches randomly.
When I'm awake and moving around the tremors don't bother me.
With my head against my pillow, I feel it twitch.
Bedtime is miserable. I have to sleep alone. No one understands.
My gabapentin was doubled recently and it helps. I'm just uncomfortable being on such a large dose. It seems safe enough on the surface of it but I stopped using drugs. I hate the thought of being forced into another addiction.
Cannabis sativa helps me and indica seems to cause restless legs to include my arms as well.
Getting off caffeine has proven to be the most effective non RX way to lessen the symptoms of RLS and benign essential tremors.
Also, quitting caffeine has proven to be the most difficult for me. After a few days I drink a soda or have coffee. I simply cannot get totally out of the caffeinated culture.
Sometimes at night I will be laying in bed with my legs and arms stirring up the covers and my head twitching against the pillow, and I just cry. I feel frustrated. I don't want to spend the rest of my life with this pre-sleep torture but I don't want to spend the rest of my life on drugs.
I tried everything else written about here for RLS except Imodium. For the above concerns.
Unfortunately I have also developed benign essential tremors. Not only do my legs (sometimes arms too) bother me greatly at night, but my head twitches randomly.
When I'm awake and moving around the tremors don't bother me.
With my head against my pillow, I feel it twitch.
Bedtime is miserable. I have to sleep alone. No one understands.
My gabapentin was doubled recently and it helps. I'm just uncomfortable being on such a large dose. It seems safe enough on the surface of it but I stopped using drugs. I hate the thought of being forced into another addiction.
Cannabis sativa helps me and indica seems to cause restless legs to include my arms as well.
Getting off caffeine has proven to be the most effective non RX way to lessen the symptoms of RLS and benign essential tremors.
Also, quitting caffeine has proven to be the most difficult for me. After a few days I drink a soda or have coffee. I simply cannot get totally out of the caffeinated culture.
Sometimes at night I will be laying in bed with my legs and arms stirring up the covers and my head twitching against the pillow, and I just cry. I feel frustrated. I don't want to spend the rest of my life with this pre-sleep torture but I don't want to spend the rest of my life on drugs.
theantiadult
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2008
- Messages
- 298
the non addictive herbal supplement kava can help it has sum benzo like effects.
When I get a mild case of RLS, I drink a liter of Tonic water (without the gin of course) and .25mgs of fresh ground nutmeg( about half a teaspoon, the amount you would add to a eggnog of some sort) . Takes about 1-2 hours and RLS is gone. Now this probably wont help for full on WD, in fact I know it wont, but it does for mild cases at least for me.
I have had major problems with opiate withdrawls for the last few years becouse of ongoing surguries and rls and anxiety are the worst for me. Most drugs have never worked for me but this last time after a head surgery I spent two days locked in my room going through horrible withdrawls after stopping a huge oxycodone and mscotin habit. Finally I called my doctor and said I was having headaches and if she could give me something non-narcotic hoping she would give me tramadol as I've heard that helps. Instead she perscribed me Fiorinal. Its been a god send. Its a barbituate and has a good does of tylenol in it. Xanex has never worked for me but this did the trick. I soothed my rls to a berable amount, took away the anxiety a lot and stopped the cold sweats. Becouse of the large does of tylenol it also helped with the aches. But you have to be careful and say non-narcotic as it comes with or without codiene. Be strong enough to say no narcotic. Its one of the only things ive ever tried thats helped me get through it. Remember it dosent compleatly take away all the discomfort, nothing will but more opiates. But it will make it a lot eaiser and you can go on living your life
dopemegently
Bluelighter
Is RLS related to the excess of noradrenaline in opiate withdrawals?
hangyourhead
Bluelighter
Most certainly, my epinephrine goes haywire during opioid WDs and definitely plays a huge part in the unbearable RLS. I recommend trying to get a script of gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica); I am particularly prescribed gabapentin for my RLS. Your body will be deficient of crucial vitamins that play a part in RLS ie Magnesium, Zinc, and Potassium. For the acute WDs, I believe benzodiazepines are crucial to bear through the RLS and overall restlessness and anxiety. Especially benzodiazepines with strong muscle relaxant properties, my favorite being: diazepam than runner up would be clonazepam.
I don't have benzo scripts anymore (other than the nonbenzo hypnotic zolpidem), so I've been resorting to the godsend of a thienodiazepine (don't let the class fool you, etizolam has the warmth and muscle relaxation of valium with the potency of xanax). It can be found for more than fair prices thru vendors online.
EDIT: 1mg etizolam = 10mg diazepam/valium
I have seen this attributed to many things including the epinephrine spike and as I received some relief from this dosing clonodine every four hours I would put personal credit into this.. but I have also seen it attributed to low dopamine levels.. so I'm not sure if they know what causes it or if its a combination of things.. also since its neuropathic pain would it make sense that it could be a hypothalamic reaction to possibly more than one low or high level in certain neurotransmitters as people get relief from manipulating the dopamine (madopar), adrenaline (clonidine), and the GABA (neurontin, LYRICA, BENZO'S). Madopar has also been shown to be quite effective with restless legs in people withdrawing from opiates. > MADOPAR < whose main complonent is Ldopa. But as the use of L'Dopa can greatly increase compulsive behavior I wonder if that wouldn't also cause cravings or compulsive behavior in drug addicts as it certainly does in gambling and can turn a person instantly into a problem gambler. So I would interested in the real cause of this as well.
Give the requip a chance, I have RLS but not from opiates, I take gabapentin which helps a lot. Even being on 120mg of Done didn't help, I'm detoxing at 45 now and that hasn't made a difference. Benzos will help too.
StartedHydro
Bluelighter
- Joined
- May 29, 2006
- Messages
- 677
I think that's why clonidine works so well for some while in opiate withdrawal. It(clonidine) has the ability to stop, shut off, decrease norepinephrine. I find that an adequate dose of clonidine effectively reduces or squelches severe high blood pressure, racing heart, anxiety, hot/cold flash(goosebumps, sweats), and RLS, ymmv. It's a great, I'd say must have med, if your abusing, dependent on opiates. It's no where near a cure all, I still have zero energy, horrid depression, stomach distress, no motivation.
What clonidine affords me is SLEEP at night. It allows time, while sleeping, to fly and in essence WDs are perceived as shorter.
If your somebody who would get sick without a everyday dosing scheme this is a must have med it makes the unbearable, bearable. Just do not take it for longer than you need, no worries here its not a "fun" med, but has to be said. Take this medicine very seriously, just notice the amount of active med, its potent. If your new to the med start very small, .01... Wait and see how you react.
It's a fantastic med to have and so so easy to get no reason not to include it.
What clonidine affords me is SLEEP at night. It allows time, while sleeping, to fly and in essence WDs are perceived as shorter.
If your somebody who would get sick without a everyday dosing scheme this is a must have med it makes the unbearable, bearable. Just do not take it for longer than you need, no worries here its not a "fun" med, but has to be said. Take this medicine very seriously, just notice the amount of active med, its potent. If your new to the med start very small, .01... Wait and see how you react.
It's a fantastic med to have and so so easy to get no reason not to include it.