How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient pramipexole, which a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. It mimicks the activity of a substance in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine is a substance known as a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are present 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. Pramipexole works by stimulating these same receptor sites. This produces the same effects as dopamine, and acts as a dopamine substitute. In this way pramipexole helps to restore the dopamine activity in the brain, which helps reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Pramiprexole can be used by itself or in conjunction with levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease, and is particularly useful in individuals no longer responding to single treatment with levodopa.

What is it used for?

Parkinson's disease

Warning!

It is recommended that you receive regular eye examinations while you taking this medicine, as it can sometimes cause eye problems. Consult your doctor if you experience any disturbances in your vision while taking this medicine.

Some people may experience dizziness caused by low blood pressure in the first few days of taking this medicine. This can be relieved by lying down until the symptoms pass.

This medicine must not be stopped abruptly, as this can lead to the development of serious side effects known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. If this medicine is to be stopped it should be withdrawn gradually under the supervision of your doctor.

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 rare, 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.

It is recommended that people with cardiovascular disease should have their blood pressure monitored during treatment with this medicine, particularly at the start, due to the risk of drops in blood pressure.

Use with caution in

Decreased kidney function

Psychotic illness

Severe cardiovascular disease

Not to be used in

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 in pregnancy has not been established. It should therefore be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any risks to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, however it is expected that it may suppress the production of breast milk. Consequently this medicine should not be used during breastfeeding. If treatment with this medicine is considered to be essential, breastfeeding should be stopped. Discuss with your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Constipation

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Swelling of the legs and ankles due to excess fluid retention (peripheral oedema)

Nausea

Difficulty performing voluntary movements, resulting in jerky or involuntary movements or muscle twitches (dyskinesia)

False perceptions of things that are not really there (hallucinations)

Dizziness

Sleepiness (somnolence)

Sudden onset of sleep

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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