Requip (Ropinirole) is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Why have I been prescribed Requip?
- Requip (Ropinirole) is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
How does it work?
- People with Parkinson’s disease have low levels of dopamine in some parts of their brains.
- Ropinirole has effects similar to those of natural dopamine, so it helps to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
When and how do I take it?
- Take Requip three times a day.
- Swallow your Requip tablet(s) whole, with a glass of water.
- It is best to take Requip with food, because that makes it less likely that you will feel sick (nauseous).
What’s the dose?
- It may take a while to find out the best dose of Requip for you.
- The usual starting dose is 0.25 mg of Requip three times each day for the first week.
- Then y
Could it interact with other tablets?
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including any herbal medicines or other medicines you obtained without a prescription. Remember to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you begin taking a new medicine while you are taking Requip.
Some medicines can affect the way Requip works, or make it more likely that you will have side effects.
“Requip” can also affect the way some other medicines work. These include:
- the anti-depressant fluvoxamine
- medication for other mental health problems, for example sulpiride
- HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
- metoclopramide, which is used to treat nausea and heartburn
- the antibiotics ciprofloxacin or enoxacin
- any other medicine for Parkinson’s disease
Tell your doctor if you are taking, or have recently taken, any of these.
What are the possible risks or side-effects?
Like all medicines, “Requip” can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. The side effects of “Requip” are more likely to happen when you first start taking it, or
when your dose has just been increased. They are usually mild, and may become less troublesome after you have taken the dose for a while. If you’re worried about side effects, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Very common side effects :These may affect more than 1 in 10 people taking Requip:
- fainting
- feeling drowsy
- feeling sick (nausea)
Common side effects These may affect up to 1 in 10 people taking Requip:
- hallucinations (‘seeing’ things that aren’t really there)
- being sick (vomiting)
- feeling dizzy (a spinning sensation)
- heartburn
- abdominal pain
- swelling of the legs
Can I drink alcohol while taking it?
- It is best to avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking ReQuip.
- Always ask your pharmacist/doctor however as other tablets you are taking may have a bearing on whether you can drink alcohol or not.
What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?
- Requip is not recommended if you are pregnant, unlessyour doctor advises that the benefit to you of taking Requip is greater than the risk to your unborn baby.
- Requip is not recommended if you are breast feeding, as it can affect your milk production.
If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.
Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropinirole
http://www.drugs.com/requip.html
http://www.rxlist.com/requip-drug.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/ropinirole-oral/article.htm