The current RLS guidelines no longer recommend dopamine agonists drugs like pramipexole for new onset RLS because of augmentation. Augmentation can happen years--even decades--after it is initially prescribed.

(I think I remember friend zombiewolf as one whose augmentation started after 20 years)

My RLS expert doctor believes everyone who takes drugs like pramipexole will eventually have augmentation. One of the evils of this drug is that is does work well (until it doesn't), so doctors and patients can be lulled into thinking it's good for RLS. It isn't.

Unfortunately, for many on our forum, there is no guideline for "getting off" already prescribed dopamine agonist drugs. And, there are people, like our friend ranpattiwagner, who find these drugs helpful and have not yet experienced augmentation and post about this.

Anyone with RLS needs to be acquainted with what augmentation is and avoid dopamine agonist drugs if not already prescribed one of these. For those, like ranpattiwagner, watch for signs of augmentation and confer with an expert RLS doctor (if possible) on how to handle it.

The Restless Leg Foundation has descriptions on their website about augmentation and there have been a number of postings on our forum describing symptoms and how difficult (horrible) they are.

I have great sympathy for anyone currently on a dopamine agonist drug. But, it is important not to extoll these drugs as virtuous to others suffering from RLS. That does not tell the story in full.