Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Requip
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
REQUIP®, also known as ropinirole, is used to treat the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
You may receive REQUIP® on its own, but it may also be given with another drug used to treat Parkinson's disease.
What it does:
REQUIP® belongs to the family of medicines called dopamine agonists. REQUIP® improves some of the chemical imbalance in the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease.
When it should not be used:
Do not use REQUIP® if you are allergic to it or any of the components of its formulation (see list below). REQUIP® is not recommended for children under 18 years of age.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
ropinirole hydrochloride
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Non-medicinal ingredients include: Hydrous lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarcellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, iron oxide yellow (1.0 and 2.0 mg tablets), iron oxide red (2.0 mg tablets), FD & C Blue No. 2 aluminum lake (1.0 and 5.0 mg tablets), polysorbate 80 (0.25 and 5 mg tablets).
What dosage forms it comes in:
REQUIP® is available as 0.25 mg (white), 1.0 mg (green), 2.0 mg (pale pink), and 5.0 mg (blue) tablets.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
| You are warned of a sudden onset of sleep condition which may occur without warning, while taking REQUIP®. You should not operate machinery or engage in activities that require alertness, as you may put yourself and others at risk of serious injury or death. This sudden onset of sleep condition has also been reported in patients taking other similar anti-Parkinson drugs. |
What should I know before taking REQUIP®:
Studies of people with Parkinson’s disease show that they may be at an increased risk of developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer, when compared to people without Parkinson’s disease. It is not known if this problem is associated with Parkinson’s disease or the drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
REQUIP® is one of the drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease, therefore, patients treated with REQUIP® should have periodic skin examinations.
Drop in Blood Pressure
While taking REQUIP®, you may experience a drop in blood pressure that may make you feel dizzy or faint especially when standing up from a sitting or lying position.
Neurological Disorder
Symptoms resembling a neurological disorder (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome) characterized by fever, muscle stiffness, stupor and unstable involuntary actions have been reported in relation to changes in treatment, reduction of treatment dose and stopping treatment.
REQUIP taken with L-dopa
REQUIP® may amplify the side effects of L-dopa (also called levodopa) and may cause or worsen pre-existing uncontrolled jerky movements (dyskinesia). Tell your doctor if this happens as the dose of your medicines may need adjusting.
Eye Disorders
If you have albinism (lack of pigmentation in skin or hair), you may have an increased risk of eye disorders while taking REQUIP® compared to people without albinism. Therefore, you should take REQUIP only under an ophthalmologist’s (doctor who specializes in eye disorders) care.
Hallucinations
While taking REQUIP®, you may experience hallucinations, such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there.
Psychiatric Disorders
Impulse control symptoms including compulsive behaviours, e.g. feeling an urge to gamble, hypersexuality, compulsive shopping, or binge eating, as well as aggression have been reported with the use of REQUIP®.
BEFORE you use REQUIP® talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- have any health problem, especially any heart, liver or kidney condition.
- have previously taken REQUIP® and became unwell.
- have any allergies or reactions to foods or drugs.
are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or if you are breast feeding. You should not be taking REQUIP® if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
- are taking any other medications, including any drugs you can buy without a prescription.
- have experienced any unusual urges and/or behaviours (such as excessive gambling or excessive sexual behaviour). (See SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM)
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Other medications may be affected by REQUIP® or may affect how REQUIP® works. Do not take any other medication, including any drugs or herbal products you can buy without a prescription. Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you talk to that you are taking REQUIP®.
Drug-drug Interaction:
Drugs that may interact with REQUIP® include:
- a drug used to help with breathing difficulties called theophylline
- an antibiotic called ciprofloxacin
- any hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- other dopamine agonists, e.g. L-dopa: REQUIP® may make some of the side effects of L-dopa worse, e.g. jerky movement.
- certain medicines called neuroleptics used to treat schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses
- digoxin, a heart medicine that is used to treat congestive heart failure or certain heartbeat irregularities
Drug-lifestyle Interaction:
REQUIP® may affect your ability to remain alert while doing normal daily activities. You should refrain yourself from doing activities such as driving a car, doing physical tasks or using hazardous machinery until you know how REQUIP® affects you.
- Because REQUIP can make you feel sleepy, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are planning to drink alcohol.
Before making any change to other medications you are taking, or stopping them, talk to your doctor first.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual dose:
Follow the doctor's instructions about how and when you should take your tablets. Your doctor will decide how many tablets you need to take each day and you should always follow his/her instructions. When you first start taking REQUIP®, the amount you take will be increased gradually.
Your doctor may adjust the amount that you are taking. You will usually be told to take REQUIP® three times a day. You should not change the dose or discontinue treatment with REQUIP® without the recommendation of your doctor.
If you are taking other medicines for Parkinson's disease, the doctor may adjust the dose of these medicines while you are taking REQUIP®.
You should swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not chew. REQUIP® can be taken with or without food.
You should continue to take your medicine even if you do not feel better, as it may take a number of weeks for the medicine to work.
REMEMBER: THIS MEDICINE IS FOR THE PERSON NAMED BY THE DOCTOR. DO NOT GIVE IT TO ANYBODY ELSE.
Overdose:
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
If you or someone you know have taken too many tablets all at once, you should get medical help immediately, either by calling your doctor, the Regional Poison Control Centre, or the nearest hospital (do not drive yourself). Always take the labelled medicine container with you even if there are no tablets left.
Missed Dose:
If you have forgotten to take REQUIP®, do not take extra doses to make up for forgotten individual doses. When you do remember to take REQUIP®, take your next dose of REQUIP® at the usual time. If you have missed taking REQUIP® for one day or more consult your doctor for advice on restarting REQUIP®.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Like all medications, REQUIP® tablets can cause some side effects. You may not experience any of them. For most patients these side effects are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious. Consult your doctor if you experience these or other side effects.
Some of the most commonly reported side effects of REQUIP® tablets are:
- Feeling or being sick
- Stomach ache
- Dizziness or light-headedness, fainting
- Sleepiness
- Headache
- Some leg swelling
- Tiredness
- Viral infection
- Feeling full and bloated or experiencing heartburn
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom/effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away | Stop taking drug and seek immediate emergency assistance | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Very common | Uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias) | ✓ | ||
| Common | Hallucinations, feeling confused | ✓ | ||
| Uncommon | Having severe confusion, irrational ideas or feeling irrational suspiciousness, other psychotic reactions, impulse control (symptoms like increased libido, feeling the urge to gamble, to shop or eat, acting in an aggressive manner) | ✓ | ||
| Very rare | Allergic reactions (symptoms like red, itchy swellings on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, rash or intense itching) | ✓ | ||
| Extreme sleepiness, falling asleep without warning | ✓ | |||
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking REQUIP®, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
The expiry date of this medicine is printed on the label. Do not use the medicine after this date.
Keep your tablets in their original pack in a dry place away from light and moisture. They should be kept at room temperature (between 15-30oC). Close container tightly after each use.
Keep out of reach of children.
REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS
You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345 Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffect™ Canada Web site at http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect. NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
MORE INFORMATION
This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at:
http://www.gsk.ca or by contacting the sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
7333 Mississauga Road
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L5N 6L4
1-800-387-7374
Last revised: April 4, 2017
©2017 GlaxoSmithKline Inc., All Rights Reserved.
REQUIP is a registered trademark of Glaxo Group Limited, used under license by GSK Inc.