Ropinirole (Systemic)

Brand Names : Requip

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ropinirole, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ropinirole. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Ropinirole has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pregnant animals have shown that ropinirole may cause birth defects in the offspring when the mother is given doses many times higher than the human dose. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether ropinirole passes into breast milk. Because of the possibility of serious unwanted effects in the nursing infant, it is important that you discuss the use of this medicine with your doctor if you wish to breast-feed.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of ropinirole in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of ropinirole.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking ropinirole, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Carbidopa and levodopa combinations (e.g., Sinemet) or
• Levodopa (e.g., Dopar, Larodopa) - Ropinirole may cause an increase in the side effects of levodopa; your doctor may need to adjust your dosage

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ropinirole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eye problems, especially with the retina - Animal studies have shown that problems with the retina may occur; it is not certain if this may occur in humans

• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
• Postural hypotension (dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when getting up from a lying or sitting position) - Ropinirole may make these conditions worse

• Liver problems - Higher blood levels of ropinirole may result, and cause an increase in side effects
• Lung problems resulting from treatment with some other Parkinson's disease medicines - Ropinirole may cause the condition to recur