What is ropinirole (oral)?
Ropinirole has some of the same effects as a chemical called dopamine, which occurs naturally
in your body. Low levels of dopamine in the brain are associated with Parkinson's disease.
Ropinirole is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle
spasms, and poor muscle control. Ropinirole is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Ropinirole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ropinirole (oral)?
Ropinirole may cause you to fall asleep during normal daytime activities such as working,
talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you
have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. If you are unsure of how this medicine will
affect you, be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to ropinirole.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take
this medication. Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if
you have:
You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other
intense urges while taking ropinirole. It is not known whether the medicine actually causes this effect.
Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while taking ropinirole.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether ropinirole is harmful to an unborn
baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
during treatment.
It is not known whether ropinirole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Ropinirole may reduce breast milk production. Do not take ropinirole without telling your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
Ropinirole may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not
there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you experience hallucinations.
Some people taking medicines for Parkinson's disease have developed skin cancer
(melanoma). However, people with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk than most people for
developing melanoma. Talk to your doctor about your specific risk and what skin symptoms to watch
for. You may need to have regular skin exams.
How should I take ropinirole (oral)?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
The dose and timing of ropinirole in treating Parkinson's disease is different from the dose
and timing in treating RLS.
You may receive ropinirole in a starting kit that has each pill marked with the day you should
take it. Do not mix these pills up because they each contain different amounts of ropinirole. The pills
must be taken in order so that you gradually receive higher doses of the medication.
You may have a brief increase in side effects whenever your dose is changed.
Ropinirole can be taken with or without food. Taking the medicine with food may help
prevent nausea, which is a common side effect of ropinirole.
It may take several weeks or months of using this medicine before your symptoms improve.
For best results, keep using the medication as directed.
Do not stop taking ropinirole suddenly or change your doses, or you could have unpleasant
withdrawal symptoms such as fever, muscle stiffness, and confusion. Talk to your doctor about how to
avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you
do.
Store ropinirole at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of ropinirole (oral)?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about ropinirole (oral)?
Your pharmacist has information about ropinirole (oral) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ropinirole (oral)?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
feeling like you might pass out;
-
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven
heartbeats (especially if you stop taking ropinirole or use a lower dose);
-
hallucinations;
-
tremors (uncontrolled shaking); or
-
tight feeling in your chest, trouble breathing.
Call your doctor promptly if you fall asleep during a daily activity, if you
faint, or if you have hallucinations (hearing or seeing something that is not there). Your doctor may want
you to stop taking ropinirole, or take a lower dose.
Less serious side effects may occur, such as:
-
mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or loss of appetite;
-
worsened RLS symptoms early in the morning;
-
diarrhea or constipation;
-
dry mouth, sweating;
-
headache;
-
dizziness, drowsiness;
-
sleep problems (insomnia); or
-
agitation or anxiety.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about ropinirole (oral)?
Ropinirole may cause you to fall asleep during normal daytime activities such as working,
talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you
have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. If you are unsure of how this medicine will
affect you, be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while
taking this medication. Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while
taking ropinirole.
Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you
do.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of ropinirole.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by ropinirole. Tell your
doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.
Ropinirole may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not
there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you experience hallucinations.
Do not stop using ropinirole or change your dose without first talking to your doctor. You
may have side effects such as fever, muscle stiffness, and confusion if you stop the medication suddenly
or if you change doses.
Some people taking medicines for Parkinson's disease have developed skin cancer
(melanoma). However, people with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk than most people for
developing melanoma. Talk to your doctor about your specific risk and what skin symptoms to watch
for. You may need to have regular skin exams.
What should I avoid while taking ropinirole (oral)?
Ropinirole can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if
you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid smoking, which can make ropinirole less effective.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of ropinirole.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly
and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
What other drugs will affect ropinirole (oral)?
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by ropinirole. Tell your
doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines, or any other Parkinson's medications..
Before taking ropinirole, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
levodopa;
-
ciprofloxacin (Cipro);
-
fluvoxamine (Luvox);
-
metoclopramide (Reglan);
-
omeprazole (Prilosec);
-
a medication used to treat nausea and vomiting or
mental illness, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine
(Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), thioridazine (Mellaril), promazine (Sparine), trifluoperazine
(Stelazine), thiothixene (Navane), or haloperidol (Haldol); or
-
an estrogen such as Premarin, Prempro, Estratest, Ogen,
Estraderm, Climara, Vivelle, estradiol, and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
ropinirole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using
a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of ropinirole (oral)?