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Health Centres - Neupro patches (rotigotine)
What is it used for?
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Parkinson's disease.
How does it work?
Neupro patches contain the active ingredient rotigotine, which is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. Rotigotine 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. Rotigotine works by stimulating these same receptor sites. This produces the same effects as dopamine, and acts as a dopamine substitute. In this way rotigotine helps to restore the dopamine activity in the brain, which helps reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Rotigotine 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.
Rotigotine 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 rotigotine is increased slowly when treatment is started. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.
Treatment with Neupro patches is usually started by using a special initiation pack of Neupro patches which contains four different strengths of patches. The starting strength is a 2mg patch which is used for one week; the strength is gradually increased in 2mg steps over a period of four weeks.
Neupro patches are designed to be changed every 24 hours. The rotigotine is absorbed through the skin from the patch and into the bloodstream at a continuous rate and this provides a steady level of the medicine throughout the day.
How to use the patches
When using your patches follow the instructions in the leaflet provided with your patches carefully. One patch should be applied daily at about the same time each day. The patch should be applied to clean, dry, hairless, healthy skin on the lower back, abdomen, hip, shoulder, upper arm or thighs. Don't apply lotions, creams or powders to the skin before applying the patch, as they will prevent it sticking properly. It is important the sticky side of the patch is not touched and that the patch is pressed down firmly for about 20 to 30 seconds to ensure it stays in place.
When changing the patch the old patch should be removed and disposed of safely; the new patch should be applied to a different area of the skin.
It is recommended that the site of application is rotated and that the same site is not used within 14 days of the last application. If you experience any skin irritation at the site of application that lasts for more than a few days, is not healing, or seems to be spreading it is important to inform your doctor.
If you forget to change your patch, then change it as soon as you remember and then continue with your regular routine. This may mean you have to remove a patch after only having worn it for less than 24 hours.
The Neupro patch has been designed to remain in place during showering, bathing and exercising. If for any reason a patch does come off, it should be replaced with a new one for the rest of the day.
The patch must not be exposed to heat whilst on the skin, for example excessive sunlight, heat pads or heat from a sauna or hot bath. The patch should be covered by clothing if it is exposed to direct sunlight.
If you get a rash or irritation on the skin exposed to the patches you should protect it from direct sunlight until the skin heals. Exposure to sunlight can lead to skin discolouration.
Do not cut the patches.
Warning!
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- 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. People using Neupro patches should have their blood pressure monitored regularly.
- 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 occurred 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 machinery. 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, hypersexuality and hallucinations 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.
- It is recommended that people using Neupro patches have regular eye tests.Tell your doctor if you experience any disturbances to your vision while using the patches, so that your eyes can be tested.
- The Neupro patches have an aluminium backing film which can cause the skin to burn if used during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cardioversion.
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