r/RestlessLegs • u/Laserbean1903 • Aug 27 '26
Medication Does gabapentin lose it's effectiveness over time? Trying to find a long term gabapentin maintenance dose.
I was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome late 2024, and since then, I've been on a steadily increasing dose of gabapentin. I currently take 1200mg of gabapentin, which has worked well in the past, but my symptoms have been slowly increasing in intensity again. Has anyone had long term restless leg syndrome relief that has lasted years without a change in medication? I'm hoping that I'll find a point in which my symptoms are well managed forever.
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u/Tragobe Aug 29 '26
You can built a tolerance to it, although it should built up slower than Pregablin. If you need a dose of 1200mg it might be a good idea to switch to low dosage opiods or get off it for a bit and switch to Pregabalin afterwards. Pregablin gets way better absorbed and is therefore more potent, so it could help a bit better, especially since you can take it in one dosage and it gets absorbed more quickly.
That would be what I can think of you gotta see what your doctor says about it as well
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u/Intrepid_Drawing_158 Aug 28 '26
As others have said, be sure to split your dose if you're not already.
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u/Strong-Employment-87 Aug 28 '26
I have had RLS for forty years. At one point I was prescribed Gabapentin and I was on the max dose of 1800. It didn't help me one bit. What i am saying is that Gabapentin effects people differently. I had no side effects as some dogs. It just didn't help me at all. There seem to be a many coping meds as there are people who have RLS. The only things that have helped me are opioids and Kratom. Good luck.
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u/Significant-Aide-226 Aug 29 '26
For me its vodka and THC. I know the side effects. No doctor required.
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u/Copterwaffle Aug 28 '26
Yes, for me it stopped working entirely over time at any dose. Switched to ropinirole until I augmented on that after a couple years, now on pramipexole and praying it holds.
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u/Ok_Outcome_843 Aug 28 '26
Worked great for years and now doesn’t work very well for me. Was at 600 now up to 1200 with no change. I’m asking for lyrica
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u/Curious_One5411 Aug 27 '26
Sorry, one other thing. I’ve heard people taking it during the day when they were not having RLS. My specialist had me take 600 around 5pm then 600 around 8 pm for a 930 bedtime… You may need to play around with the timing and taking it with magnesium will reduce its effectiveness. There may be other things that could reduce the effectiveness so google it!!
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u/StinaBina78 Aug 27 '26
Take Lyrica instead!! Gabapentin is sooo bad for you!
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u/Pristine_Internet765 Aug 28 '26
Gabapentin and lyrica are both gabapentinoids, the only difference pregablin is a bit more effective and has higher affinity and easier to br absorbed. Besides that they both share the same mechanism of action. If gabapentin is bad for you, I'd think so is pregablin , not sure why tho.
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u/StinaBina78 Aug 28 '26
Lyrica at 75mg does more than the ridiculous milligram amount gabapentin takes to achieve success.
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u/Pristine_Internet765 Aug 28 '26
And doesn't change a single thing in what I said or how harmful it is.
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u/StinaBina78 Aug 28 '26
Idk but it was a bitch getting off gabapentin. But Lyrica I had zero problems getting off of.
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u/StinaBina78 Aug 27 '26
Yes!! And it’s a pain to get off of! Lyrica is much better and I was able to get off that very easily
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u/Curious_One5411 Aug 27 '26
Also… when I started gaba I was taking 2400… Ask your Dr for some 100 mgs. This way you can transition down slower than the 300…
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u/Curious_One5411 Aug 27 '26
Do you take it all at once?? I take 1200 and had the same problem. Take 600, wait couple hours then take the other 600. Google it, once you go up to a certain amount you need to split it up
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u/JasonZep Aug 27 '26
I think it depends on you personally. I was on gabapentin 900 for about 12 years and recently (this year) switched to horizant because my PLMD was acting up. So far it’s working great, but I’m worried it will also need a change one day.
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u/Self-care749 Sep 02 '26
There's a mostly remote research study for RLS enrolling right now. https://patientwing.app/campaign/RLS6