Read this information completely before you start taking REQUIP.
Read the information each time you get more medicine. There may be new information. This leaflet provides a summary about REQUIP. It does not include everything there is to know about your medicine. This information should not take the place of discussions with your doctor about your medical condition or REQUIP.
What is REQUIP?
REQUIP is a prescription medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is also used to treat moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome. Having one of these conditions does not mean you have or will develop the other.
What is the most important information I should know about REQUIP?
- Patients with Parkinson's disease should take REQUIP differently than patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (see How should I take REQUIP for Parkinson's disease?). For Parkinson's disease, a higher dose of REQUIP is generally needed, and is taken more frequently throughout the day.
- There are known side effects of REQUIP (see What are the possible side effects of REQUIP?).
- If you fall asleep or feel very sleepy while doing normal activities such as driving, faint, feel dizzy, nauseated, or sweaty when you stand up from sitting or lying down, you should talk with your doctor.
- Hallucinations (unreal visions, sounds, or sensations) have been reported in patients taking REQUIP. The risk is greater in patients with Parkinson's disease who are elderly, taking REQUIP with
L-dopa or taking higher doses of REQUIP. If these occur, you should discuss them with your doctor. - REQUIP may make some of the side effects of
L-dopa worse. REQUIP may cause uncontrolled sudden movements or make such movements you already have worse or more frequent. You should notify your doctor in such a case as dosage adjustments to your anti- Parkinson’s medications may be necessary. - Before starting REQUIP, be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines that make you drowsy.
Who should not take REQUIP?
You should not take REQUIP if you are allergic to the active ingredient ropinirole or to any of the inactive ingredients. Your doctor and pharmacist have a list of the inactive ingredients.
What should I tell my doctor?
Be sure to tell your doctor if:- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- you are breast-feeding.
- you have daytime sleepiness from a sleep disorder or have unexpected sleepiness or periods of sleep while taking REQUIP.
- you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Some of these medicines may increase your chances of getting side effects while taking REQUIP.
- you start or stop taking other medicines while you are taking REQUIP. This may increase your chances of getting side effects.
- you start or stop smoking while you are taking REQUIP. Smoking may decrease the treatment effect of REQUIP.
- you feel dizzy, nauseated, sweaty, or faint when you first stand up from sitting or lying down.
- you drink alcoholic beverages. This may increase your chances of becoming drowsy or sleepy while taking REQUIP.
How should I take REQUIP for Parkinson's disease?
- Be sure to take your REQUIP exactly as directed by your doctor or healthcare provider.
- Three times a day is the usual way to take REQUIP for Parkinson's disease.
- Your doctor will start you on a low dose of REQUIP. Your doctor will change the dose until you are taking the right amount of medicine to control your symptoms. It may take several weeks before you reach a dose that controls your symptoms.
- If you miss a dose, do not double your next dose.
- Contact your doctor, if you stop taking REQUIP for any reason. Do not restart without consulting your doctor.
- Your doctor may prescribe REQUIP alone or add REQUIP to medicine that you are already taking for Parkinson's disease.
- You can take REQUIP with or without food. Taking REQUIP with food may decrease the chances of feeling nauseated.
What are the possible side effects of REQUIP?
- Most people who take REQUIP tolerate it well. The most commonly reported side effects in people taking REQUIP are nausea, headache, dizziness, drowsiness or sleepiness.
- You should be careful until you know if REQUIP affects your ability to remain alert while doing normal daily activities, and you should watch for the development of significant daytime sleepiness or episodes of falling asleep. It is possible that you could fall asleep while doing normal activities such as driving a car, doing physical tasks, or using hazardous machinery while taking REQUIP. Your chances of falling asleep while doing normal activities while taking REQUIP are greater if you are taking other medicines that cause drowsiness.
- When you start taking REQUIP or when you increase your dose, you may feel dizzy, nauseated, sweaty or faint, when first standing up from sitting or lying down. Therefore, do not stand up quickly after sitting or lying down, particularly if you have been sitting or lying down for a long period of time. Take a minute sitting on the edge of the bed or chair before you get up.
- Some patients taking ropinirole have shown urges to behave in a way unusual for them. Examples of this are an unusual urge to gamble or increased sexual urges and/or behaviors. If you or your family notices that you are developing any unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor.
- Hallucinations (unreal visions, sounds, or sensations) have been reported in patients taking REQUIP. The risk is greater in patients with Parkinson's disease who are elderly, taking REQUIP with L-dopa, or taking higher amounts of REQUIP.
- If you are taking levodopa (L-dopa) for Parkinson's disease, REQUIP may make some of the side effects of
L-dopa worse. REQUIP may cause uncontrolled sudden movements or make such movements you already have worse or more frequent.
This is not a complete list of side effects and should not take the place of discussions with your healthcare professionals. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you a more complete list of possible side effects. Talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you may have.
Other Information About REQUIP
Studies of people with Parkinson’s disease show that they may be at an increased risk of developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer, when compared to people without Parkinson’s disease. It is not known if this problem is associated with Parkinson’s disease or the medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, patients being treated with REQUIP should have periodic skin examinations.
- Take REQUIP exactly as your doctor prescribes it.
- Do not share REQUIP with other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
- Keep REQUIP out of the reach of children.
- Store REQUIP at room temperature out of direct sunlight.
- Keep REQUIP in a tightly closed container.
This Patient Information summarizes important information about REQUIP. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in this summary. Do not take REQUIP for a condition for which it was not prescribed. For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you information about REQUIP that is written for healthcare professionals.
