Pramipexole Dosing: An Introduction
The dose of
pramipexole dihydrochloride (
Mirapex®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to pramipexole (especially if you develop bothersome side effects)
- How well your kidneys function
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Pramipexole Dosing for Restless Legs Syndrome
The starting dose of pramipexole for treating
restless legs syndrome (
RLS) is pramipexole 0.125 mg once daily, taken two to three hours before bedtime. After four to seven days, your healthcare provider may increase the dose to pramipexole 0.25 mg once daily if your RLS symptoms are still bothersome. If necessary, your healthcare provider may further increase your dose to pramipexole 0.75 mg after another four to seven days.
If you have kidney disease, your healthcare provider should wait 14 days between dose increases. instead of the usual four to seven days.
Previously, it was thought that it was unnecessary to slowly taper the dose when stopping pramipexole for RLS (that it could usually be stopped "cold turkey"). However, one study showed that suddenly stopping pramipexole can cause RLS symptoms to "rebound" and become worse than they were originally. In order to prevent or lessen this effect, your healthcare provider may have you stop the medication gradually, rather than abruptly.
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