Requip

What is Requip?

Requip is an agent that has similar effects to dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical in the body. Parkinson's is associated with low levels of dopamine.Requip is used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms (stiffness and tremors) as well as poor muscle control.Restless Leg Syndrome can be treated with Ropinirole.Requip XL extended-release is only approved for treating Parkinson symptoms and RLS. Extended-release Requip XL is only effective for Parkinson's symptoms.Parkinson's disease and RLS are separate disorders. You will not get the other condition if you have one.

Side effects of Requip

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat,Requip can cause some people to fall asleep while doing normal activities during the day, such as driving, working, talking, or eating. Speak to your doctor if daytime sleepiness is a problem.While taking this medication, you may experience increased sexual desire, urges to gamble, or other intense desires.Speak to your doctor if this occurs.

If you experience:

• Extreme drowsiness or falling asleep quickly (even when feeling alert);
• If your symptoms worsen or do not improve, you may be experiencing a worsening of your symptoms.
• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
• Unusual changes in mood or behavior
• Tremors are uncontrollable, twitching muscle movements.
• Hallucinations are a form of hallucination (seeing and hearing things that are not real).

Older adults may experience more side effects, such as confusion or hallucinations.

Side effects of Requip include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, weakness;
• Headache, confusion, hallucinations;
• Increased blood pressure (severe headaches, pounding in the neck or ears, bleeding from your nose, irregular heartbeats);
• Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation;
• Flu symptoms (fever, chills, and body aches);
• Sudden muscle movements;
• Increased sweating
• Swelling in the legs or feet.

There may be other side effects.Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Warnings

You may fall asleep while doing normal activities during the day, such as driving, working, talking, or eating. Even though you feel alert, you may suddenly fall asleep. You should tell your doctor if there are any issues with drowsiness or sleepiness during the day. You should be cautious if you do not know how the medicine will affect your ability to drive or perform other tasks that require alertness and awareness.While taking Requip, you may experience increased sexual urges or unusual gambling urges. Speak to your doctor if any unusual or intense urges occur while you are taking Requip.Share this medication only with those who have the same symptoms as you. Requip can cause some side effects if you drink alcohol. Sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for depression, anxiety, seizures, or anxiety, as well as cold or allergy medication, can increase the sleepiness that ropinirole causes. Inform your doctor if any of these medicines are regularly taken.Hallucinations are most common in elderly people who take Requip. If you have hallucinations, call your doctor.Do not discontinue Requip use without first consulting with your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking the medication or change your dose, you may experience side effects like confusion, fever, and muscle stiffness.Some people who take medicines to treat Parkinson's have developed skin cancer. People with Parkinson's may be at a higher-than-average risk of developing melanoma. Speak to your doctor to learn about your risk and the skin symptoms you should be aware of. You may require regular skin checks.

Similar/related drugs

ropinirole, pramipexole, benztropine, carbidopa, levodopa, Mirapex, and Exelon

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to ropinirole, then Requip is not for you.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Requip will be safe for you:

• High or low blood pressure
• Kidney disease (or dialysis if you have it);
• Heart rhythm disorders;
• A sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy or other conditions, may cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
• If you smoke.

Parkinson's patients may be at a greater risk for skin cancer (melanoma). Speak to your doctor to learn more about the risk of skin cancer and to be aware of any symptoms.Requip is not known to harm unborn babies.Tell your doctor immediately if you plan to get pregnant.The effects of ropinirole on nursing babies are not yet known. Ropinirole can slow down breast milk production. Inform your doctor if breastfeeding is taking place.Anyone younger than 18 is not allowed to use Requip.

How to take Requip?

Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take Requip exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may change your dosage from time to time. Take this medication only as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dose or take it longer.You should not take extended-release Requip tablets if you are already taking immediate-release tablets.Requip is administered differently for Parkinson's and RLS. Please follow the instructions on your prescription label. If you have questions about the ropinirole that you received at the pharmacy, ask your pharmacist.Take Requip with or without food. Take Requip at the same time every day.The Requip XL extended-release tablet should not be crushed, chewed, or broken. Swallow the entire tablet.If you notice a piece of the tablet in your feces, call your doctor. This could be a sign that you have not absorbed the entire dose of medicine.Tell your doctor if symptoms worsen, occur earlier in the day or in the evening than usual, or you experience restless symptoms.Your symptoms may not improve for several weeks. Continue to take the medication according to instructions, and inform your doctor if you do not see improvement in your symptoms.Requip should not be stopped abruptly, as you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. You should follow your doctor's advice about reducing your dose.Store away from heat, moisture, and light. When not in use, keep the bottle tightly shut.

Details on dosage

Requip Adult Dosage:

Immediate-release tablets:
Initial: 0.25mg orally, three times daily.
After a week, you can increase the dose in weekly increments depending on your individual effectiveness and tolerance.
Week 2: Give 0.5 mg 3 times daily orally.
Take 0.75 mg three times a day. Take 1 mg three times per day.After week 4, you can increase the dose by 1.5 mg/day every week up to 9 mg/day. Then, increase it by 3 mg/day each week up to 24 mg.
Maximum Dose: 8 mg three times per day orally
Extended-release tablets:
Initial dose: 2 mg once daily for 1 to 2 weeks, then 2 mg/day every 1 to 2 weeks or more, depending on the therapeutic response and tolerance.
Maximum dose: 24mg orally, once per day.
You can switch to an extended-release formulation if you prefer. The first dose of the extended-release tablet should be closest to the total daily dose for immediate-release. After conversion, adjust the dose based on response and tolerance.
Comments:
If there is a significant interruption to therapy, retitration might be required. This drug should be tapered off over a period of 7 days.
If the extended-release tablets are not taken as directed, they may cause an incomplete release of medication.
Use: To treat Parkinson's disease.

Adult dose for restless legs syndrome:

Immediate-release tablets:
Initial: Orally, 0.25 mg once daily on Days 1 and 2.
Titration of dose: Based on individual efficacy and tolerance:
Days 3–7: Give 0.5 mg once daily orally.
Week 3: Give 1 mg orally, once daily.
Week 2: Give 1.5 mg orally, once per day.
Week four: take 2 mg once daily orally.
Week 4: Give 2.5 mg orally, once per day.
Week 6: Give 3 mg orally, once per day.
Week 8: Give 4 mg orally, once daily.
Maximum Dose: 4 mg taken orally, once per day.
Comments:
Take 1 to 3 hours prior to bedtime.
In clinical trials, this drug was never tapered before discontinuation.
Use: To treat moderate-to-severe Restless Legs Syndrome.

What happens if I miss the dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dosage if your next dose is scheduled soon. Do not increase your dose to make up for the missed one.

What happens if I overdose?

For poison assistance, call 1-800-222-1222 or get immediate medical help.

What should be avoided?

Avoid standing up quickly from a seated or lying-down position. You may feel dizzy. Slowly get up, and be sure to keep your balance. You may be unable to think clearly or react properly if you are dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery until you have determined how the medicine will affect you.Alcohol can cause certain side effects in Requip.

Interaction with other drug

This effect can be worsened by taking Requip along with other drugs that make you sleepy. Before taking sleeping pills, narcotic medications, muscle relaxers, anxiety, depression, or seizure medicines, ask your doctor.Other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, and vitamins, may interact with ropinirole. Inform your healthcare providers of all medications you are taking and those you plan to take.