MIRAPEX Reviews (PRAMIPEXOLE DIHYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 2.8 (431 Ratings)

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 EXTRAPYRAMIDAL MOVEMENT DISORDERS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

MIRAPEX  (PRAMIPEXOLE DIHYDROCHLORIDE):  Pramipexole is used alone or with other medications to treat Parkinson's disease. It can improve your ability to move and decrease shakiness (tremor), stiffness, slowed movement, and unsteadiness. It may also decrease the number of episodes of not being able to move ("on-off syndrome"). This medication is also used to treat a certain medical condition (restless legs syndrome - RLS) that causes an unusual urge to move the legs. Symptoms usually occur at night along with uncomfortable/unpleasant feelings in the legs. This medication can decrease these symptoms and thereby improve sleep. Pramipexole is a dopamine agonist that works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural substance (dopamine) in the brain.   FDA Approval Date: 1997-07-01 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR MIRAPEXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Parkinson's Disease Taken by my 88 year old father. Developed insomnia - awakening at 3:00am, compulsive eating - upset his diabetes control, compulsive repetitive behaviors, severe swelling in feet and ankles, hallucinations and irrational behavior. This was a nightmare!!!! He never did work up to a maximum dose, his symptoms and behavior got so bizarre, we insisted the neurologist wean him off this drug. He is still recovering from the damage done by three months of Mirapex! M 88 90 days
6/13/2008
 4  RLS Slight upset stomach mid morning, taking medication around 9 pm. I understand others began clenching teeth at night. I am also aware that I am doing that. The bad taste in my mouth also occurs. I really don't like any of these side effects, but the bad taste in my mouth bothers me mosts. I have been experiencing lots of forgetfullness to the point that I could no longer cover it up. It was affecting having coffee with friends, remember lunch dates, appoints, etc. It became clear that I could be experiencing sleep deprevation. As a result my doctor and I explored the idea that I had RLS. I couldn't watch late night TV I would begin to move my legs as they felt like I was experiencing "growing pains" as I did when young. Turns out that I had not been experiencing REM sleep. I have not dreamed in years. I was up multiple times during the night thinking that I must have heard a noise that woke me but it was angst in my legs that nearly kept me awake all night. Not wonder I could not function during the day, or rather remember most of what I should. I was sleep deprived. Now I sleep more that 4 hours at a time and I actual have dreams. Dreams are a good thing. It means that you are getting the REM sleep you need to survive, although I am not an expert, F 52 4 months
6/5/2008
 4  parkinsons hallucinations, M 56 4 months
5/30/2008
 3  RLS Gained 60 pounds since taking Mirapex March of 2007, COMPULSIVE shopper, I owe $20,000 in credit card payments, binge eating, addicted to chocolate, severe sores and rashes on my arms for over a year, haven't slept an entire night, I wake up every few hours, tired all of the time. The requip that I had been taking for RLS hadn't worked anymore, so my Dr. put me on Mirapex and it was right after I begain the drug that my arms starting breaking out. I walk around on the hottest of hottest days in jackets and anything long sleeved because I'm so embarrassed ofmy arms. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY OTHER MEDICATION FOR RLS THAT WOULD WORK, I'M DESPARATE. THANK YOU. RESTLESS IN SARASOTA M 55 15 months
5/26/2008
 1  severe rls tics in eyelid lasting about 3 weeks. Ongoing tearfulness and unexpected crying at work. spending spree can not emphasis the problems this side effect has on daily living. Eating benge cant figure out why I am eating and have wieght gain and water retention. Hypersexuality (controlled but exessive for this patient and unwanted due to unmarried status) too much flirting.No gambling but other problems are similar to gambling and risk taking. Calming effect translated into lack of concern for daily routines such as bill paying and work requirements. I sleep much better. I quit some of my activities(reduce stress) and will discontinue its use immediately. F 46 4 months
5/24/2008
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 3  RLS & Parkinsons I have most of the side effects mentioned: Constipation, overwhelming sadness, binge eating weight gain, headaches ( Migrane) agitation, teeth clenches, awake after 4 hours sleep, severe edema, drowsey abour 45 _ 60 minutes after taking meds, memory loss, joint stiffness, increase in tremors, shortness of breath, clumsey, toe cramps, drooling, light headedness, feeling "wired", fidgity all the time, can't "settle" down, severe emotional hypersensitivity and crying spells daily, obsessive compulsive, gambling issues. I have been on Mirapex for about 8 years, very low dose at first for RLS, then diagnosed with Parkinsons and dose increased. Moved to Nevada and doctor didn't know what to do with me and INCREASED MY DOSAGE. I now take 12 mg a day....plus 8 mg of artain a day. Just last week ( May 9) went back to original doctor with the above list of issues ( I thought I'd had a stroke) and he was shocked that I am taking the dosage that I am. He is slowly taking it down and hopefully most or all of my side effects will leave also. I do have to say that it has greatly helped my RLS, don't know about the PD, since now all is masked with side effects. I don't recomend it to anyone, and yet, I feel I have some relief from RLS. 58 8 years
5/11/2008
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 1  RLS I am writing on the behalf of my mother whom has nearly lost her mind because of this drug.It is very dangerous! Unaware of what she was doing my mother became an Obsessive Compulsive Gambler.She has lost over $500,000 in the last year.It wasn't until the money was gone and she was off her medication did she relize what she had done.By then it was too late.Now my mother owes the IRS a lot of money and they don't want to here about what Myrapex did or did not do.She has lost her home and probably most of her children.What make this even harder is that my dad died for the money that she gambled away. I have not heard of this medicine causing this side effect until my mothers Rhumetologist told her what it was doing to her. He noticed the changes in her from the moment she started taking it and he discontinued the medicine.The OCD brought on by this drug does not appear to effect people with Parkinsons Disease as it does those whom take it for RLS. I wish everyone the best and I hope your story does not end like ours.May God be with you. F 39 1 days
4/29/2008
 5  RLS I have experienced night sweats, but not often. Also, when I first starting taking the drug, I had very strange dreams, which I was told by my doc, was very common! Though after a couple weeks that went away! Im sorry to hear that some people have had terrible experiences with this drug. Personally, I have found it to be a miracle drug. Im sleeping, and my legs do not bother me at all. I have not gained weight, I have not been sick.... I guess Im very fortunate to know that I have really bennifeted from this drug. I hope that it helps others. M 39 2 days
4/28/2008
 1  RLS Constipation, bloatedness, nausea throughout the day, overwhelming sadness, binge eating, weight gain, hives on arms, itching, chest pains, hot flashes, headache, agitation, teeth clenching, joint pain, after 4 hour sleep, I'm wide awake, almost ran a red light while driving All this after only 5 days! This is a dangerous drug. I would not recommend taking this medication to anyone. I stopped taking it and am starting to feel like my old self again. I'd rather deal with the tingling in my legs then those side effects any day. I think this drug should be recalled. F 51 5 days
4/23/2008
 1  PD Compulsive gambling; swollen feet and legs; insomenia; rash; manic behavior; ADD. Watch out--this is the drug from hell. Mirapex completely ruined my life. I had no choice about Parkinson's disease, but I should have had a choice about Mirapex if only I had been warned. M 61 5 years
4/20/2008
 1  RLS Awaken every hour since starting Mirapex. Can't go back to sleep for 2-3 hours. Then after another hour of sleep I awaken again. This has not helped me get any more sleep than before starting Rx. Extremely fatigued during the day. Symptoms of RLS began 30 years ago. Slowly they became worse. Sleep Disorders/Neurologist prescribed Mirapex 0.125mg for 5 days with no significant change. Dose was increased to 0.25mg by Dr. Mirapex is NOT a wonder drug for me. M 72 6 days
4/8/2008
 1  Restless leg syndrome severe upset stomache.Hallucinations..simply couldn't move when i woke up. I wish i could rate this a 0....I have FMA ..and they were trying to treat me also for restless leg syndrome..I took this drug 3 days and was violently ill to my stomache,but i was so tired of going to the doctor that i waited 10 days until i went to the emergency room..where i was admitted into ICU...they say now i have Pancreintitis,a disease you get for being an alcholic..Taking a new medicine..or sometimes unexplained..I know i had troubles ,but this medicine almost killed me..i was close to death..I have taken medicines before ..BUT never like this..I haven,t had trouble with other medicines...And when it is recalled I'll be first in line to have my claim.That happened 3 months ago,and i have already had to go back to the emergency room for treatment.i wasn't admitted the second time but am told that i can always have flare ups.I think this drug has altered my life.PLEASE TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET F 41 3 days
4/1/2008
 5  RLS/PLMD Nausea in the morning, but no vomiting. No gambling; no spending sprees. Sadness, inexplicable crying--although I believe there may be an age-related component here. Makes me drowsy; I'll crash within 45-60 minutes of taking it. Inability to ejaculate, but again there may be an age-related component. A lot of the comments I read on this page ring true for me. I started on 0.25 mg 6 years ago for RLS/PLMD, but the body craves more and more. I'm now at 2 mg. I tried Requip; it didn't work, no matter how much I dosed. Mirapex HAS been effective in allowing me to sleep at night, IF I take it properly. I take four 0.5 mg tablets one hour before I want to go to bed, careful of how much alcohol I've consumed, or food I've eaten, and 95% of the time I get to sleep 4-6 hours. M 65 6 years
3/30/2008
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 1  RLS Severe PLMD Mirapex works well for the RSL and PLMD symptoms BUT... I have steadily put on a TON of weight and the frequency of my symptoms have increased tremendously, which I feel is due to the drug. I have suffered from the symptoms for decades, but not nearly as frequently as after I took Mirapex. I then investigated possible side effects, and read an article that stated thst Mirapex, indeed, worsens the condition, as well as can cause weight gain. My symptoms have become so bad now that I am completely dependent on Mirapex for relief, but I am now seriously overweight and still gaining. I am afraid to go off it, but I am determined to find an alternative solution and will go off of it because of these side effects. Anyone know of any effective alternatives without bad side effects? F 52 1 years
3/26/2008
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 1  Parkinson's I am writing on behalf on my deceased wife. My beloved took the medication to "smooth over" her off periods. She took it for over 5 years. Without our knowledge she became an OCD obsessvive compulsive disorder (diagnosis from her neurologist). She spent $180,00.00 on things she could have done without. We did not know the bad side effects. She had terrible nightmares and could not sleep through the night for the last five years. DON'T TAKE IF YOU DON'T NEED IT! LOOK FOR OTHER SOLUTIONS M 62 5 years
3/24/2008
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 4  Parkinson's Vastly increased sexual urges, which increased as my dosage increased. Urges manifested most strongly in compulsive cross-dressing. I 'dressed' occasionally at first, then more and more frequently, sometimes several times per week, often in public. Never actively cross-dressed before Mirapex. Urges reduced significantly after my doctor reduced the dosage. Mirapex does wonders for reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's. But the compulsive behaviors warned about are very real. Tell your doctor about any strange behavior, even if it is embarassing. M 50 4 years
3/20/2008
 1  Restless Leg Syndrome Compulsive behavior, weight gain, strange dreams, falling asleep during the day, memory loss, unable to concentrate, nausea, drug "hangover" in the morning. I started taking .25mg nightly for RLS and slowly over an 8 year period increased my dosage to 4mg nightly. This drug works great for RLS, but has terrible side effects. Please use this drug with caution. F 40 8 years
3/6/2008
 4  RLS A little bit harder to remember things. Reduced RLS symptoms by about half at 0.25mg. Added 350 mg Soma 1 year ago to further reduce symptoms. The combo works well. M 50 2.5 years
3/1/2008
 4  RLS Weight-gain (about 20 pounds in 6 months with no change in diet), difficulty concentrating during the day, occasional surprising pin-prick shocks in extremities, joint soreness, and it seems like I'm never quite fully asleep during the night (constant tossing and turning) -Despite- the side-effects, at least I am able to get some sleep. I haven't noticed any of the "vivid dreams" that others have. Quite the opposite -- I rarely remember having any dreams at all unless I can muster a "sleep-in" on a Saturday. It isn't perfect, but at least I no longer want to take a hack-saw to my legs. M 44 6 months
2/24/2008
 3  RLS/Parkinsons Terrible taste in mouth. Food tastes horrible. Fall asleep in daytime, even sitting up. Incontinent. Loose bowels. Afraid to stop without connsulting doctor. Herbal or homeopathic remedies work better for RLS. F 72 6 months
2/11/2008

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