Requip (ropinirole)

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How does it work?

Requip tablets contain the active ingredient ropinirole, which is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. Ropinirole works by mimicking the activity of a substance in the brain called dopamine.

Dopamine is a substance known as a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are found in the brain and nervous system and are involved in transmitting messages between nerves. These messages allow the normal functioning of the body. The neurotransmitter dopamine is known to be reduced or absent in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, and this is thought to be the cause of the disease symptoms.

Dopamine normally transmits messages by stimulating specific receptor sites in the brain. Ropinirole works by stimulating these same receptor sites. This produces the same effects as dopamine, and acts as a dopamine substitute. In this way ropinirole helps to restore the dopamine activity in the brain, which helps reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Ropinirole can be used by itself or in conjunction with levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease, and is particularly useful in people for whom levodopa alone is no longer providing adequate control of symptoms.

Ropinirole can cause a drop in blood pressure when you first start treatment, and this may cause dizziness or fainting. To minimise the chance of this and other side effects, the dose of ropinirole is increased slowly when treatment is started. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

What is it used for?

- Parkinson's disease.

Warning!

- Requip tablets should be taken with or after food to minimise the chance of experiencing side effects such as nausea or indigestion.
- This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. Drinking alcohol may increase the chance of feeling dizzy.
- This medicine can cause sleepiness and on rare occasions people have experienced a sudden onset of sleep during their daily activities. In some cases this occured without any warning signs. Although this is uncommon, you should exercise caution when driving or performing other potentially hazardous activities. People who have experienced sleepiness or an episode of sudden onset of sleep while taking this medicine should not drive or operate machinary. Caution should be observed when drinking alcohol or taking other medicines that cause drowsiness, as this may increase the risk of drowsiness.
- Pathological gambling, increased sex drive and hypersexuality have been reported in people taking dopamine agonists such as this one for Parkinson's disease.

If you think this medicine is affecting you in this way, you should consult your doctor.
- You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Use with caution in

.

- Decreased kidney function.
- Decreased liver function.
- Severe disease involving the heart and blood vessels.
- History of psychotic illness.

Not to be used in

- Pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used during pregnancy. Women who could get pregnant should use an effective method of contraception to avoid pregnancy while taking this medicine. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers, as it may suppress the production of breast milk. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

- Take this medication with or after food.

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