Methadone for Restless Leg Syndrome

[hfleming]

Hello everyone-
I'm new to this forum and have a somewhat unique situation. Moving to London from Los Angeles, currently taking Methadone, 10mg - One tablet 3 times daily as a treatment for severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). I've consulted remotely with the London Pain Centre (LPC), and after assessing the patient records they are willing to prescribe the same treatment I'm receiving in US.

My questions:
1) Prior to registering on NHS and getting a GP, what is the cost (and difficulty getting) of the above prescription, if not covered by NHS, assuming the LPC issues the prescription.
2) Any tips or issues to be concerned with regarding getting methadone and getting it covered by NHS for severe RLS and not heroine addiction.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. thank you!!!!

[lamzee]

Register with a GP right away, first thing. Then take the letter from the clinic to the GP and ask for it to be re-written on an NHS form. (They may not do this if the pain clinic is private however).

Is the clinic private or NHS? If private, then they will issue you with a private prescription to take to a pharmacy. Physeptone 5mg tablets are available, but pharmacy may need to order for you, and also to make routine checks on legality/validity of the prescription.

[Nikolai]

I suffer the same but don't take meds (have tried one or two which didn't work). How often do you get it ? Must be severe if you're being prescribed methadone.

[johnep]

I thought standard treatment in Uk was ropinorole or mirtazepine.
johnep

[Nikolai]

Licensed treatment is low dose ropinirole (Adartrel) or pramipexole (Mirapexin). Doc was unsure about prescribing these, as well as me so decided not to follow that route for now. I've tried couple of other things off label but no use. It's something i'll have to live with for now unless it gets worse.

[lamzee]

Have also seen madopar 62.5mg prescribed for it.

[Nikolai]

Main problem with it is augmentation, i.e symptoms appearing earlier in the day and with greater intensity:

An Algorithm for the Management of Restless Legs Syndrome ? Mayo Clinic Proceedings

[johnep]

Methadone is used in USA as cheap analgesic. Would have effect of sedation but not yet found a ref to restless legs. Will have a google.
johnep

[johnep]

I googled and found a whole new world with the most degrading case histories. I will be leaving this thread alone from now on.
johnep

[bobbin]

Register with a GP right away, first thing. Then take the letter from the clinic to the GP and ask for it to be re-written on an NHS form. (They may not do this if the pain clinic is private however).

Is the clinic private or NHS? If private, then they will issue you with a private prescription to take to a pharmacy. Physeptone 5mg tablets are available, but pharmacy may need to order for you, and also to make routine checks on legality/validity of the prescription.

As far as I know, someone who had just moved from LA to England wouldn't be eligible for NHS prescriptions.