Brand Name

Requip {GlaxoSmithKline}

Generic Name

ropinirole, pronounced roe-PIN-i-ROLE

What is Requip?

Requip is a medication that treats symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, like muscle spasms, poor muscle control, stiffness and tremors. You may also be prescribed Requip to treat restless legs syndrome, which is also known as RLS.

Requip may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Requip

Requip works by affecting a chemical called dopamine, which is a naturally occurring chemical in your body. Low levels of dopamine in your brain are associated with Parkinson’s disease, and thought to be associated with RLS.

Requip may cause people to behave spontaneously in a way that is unusual for them. Some examples of urges are an increase in sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble or other intense urges. While it is not definite that Requip may be responsible for these urges you should tell your doctor immediately if you believe that you have any intense or unusual urges while taking this medication.

Taking Requip may make you unusually drowsy or cause you to fall asleep during normal daytime activities like working, talking, eating or driving. Requip may cause sudden sleep incidents where it is possible to fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly, even just after being alert. You should tell your doctor if you have any of these problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.

You should not stop taking Requip without talking to your doctor, even if you think you are better. Stopping this medication suddenly may cause you to have fevers, muscle stiffness or confusion. Tell your doctor if you want to stop taking Requip and he or she will gradually taper you off of this medication

Requip may cause you to experience hallucinations, or the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there. This is more common in elderly people. Tell your doctor if you experience hallucinations.

Requip is in pregnancy category C, and this medication is not known to harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking Requip do not suddenly stop taking your medication. Tell your doctor immediately and he or she will help you to safely stop taking Requip.

Requip is not known to pass into breast milk, but you should not breast-feed while taking Requip without talking to your doctor first. Requip may also reduce breast milk production.

Some patients who take Requip and other medications for Parkinson’s disease have developed skin cancer of the melanoma type. However, it is not determined if people with Parkinson’s disease have a higher risk than most people for developing melanoma, or if the medications relate to this finding. You should talk to your doctor about your individual risks for melanoma, as well as what skin symptoms to watch for. You should continue having regular skin exams while taking Requip.

Before You Take Requip

If you are allergic to ropinirole you should not take Requip.

If you have high or low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease or liver disease you should tell your doctor before taking Requip.

If you have a history of mental illness or compulsive behaviors you should tell your doctor before starting treatment with Requip.

If you smoke you should inform your doctor before taking Requip.

Be aware that Requip may cause your reaction time to be impaired. Take care to have someone with you when you are driving and first start taking Requip, until you know how you will react to this medication.

Requip may make you feel dizzy, so you should take care to steady yourself before getting up from a lying or sitting position to prevent falling.

You should not drink alcohol while taking Requip as it can exacerbate the side effects of this medication.

Requip Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• estrogens like Premarin, Prempro, Estratest, Ogen, Estraderm, Climara, Vivelle, and
  estradiol
• fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• levodopa
• mesoridazine (Serentil)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• perphenazine (Trilafon)
• promazine (Sparine)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• thiothixene (Navane)
• trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Requip. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Requip

You should take Requip exactly your doctor has told you to. It is important that you do not take Requip in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer or shorter than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label and follow any dose changes carefully if your doctor instructs you to change your dose.

You can take Requip with or without food. Taking Requip with food may help to prevent nausea, which is a common side effect of this medication.

The dosage and timing of using Requip in treating patients with Parkinson’s disease is different from the dosage and timing in treating patients with RLS.

Your doctor may give you a Requip starter kit that has each pill marked with the day you should take it. You should not mix these pills up, because they each contain different amounts of Requip. The pills should be taken in order so that you gradually receive higher doses of this medication. You may experience increased side effects when your dose in increased.

Store Requip at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Requip you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your next dose is less than 12 hours away you should skip the dose you missed.

Requip Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Requip and seek emergency medical help immediately:

• allergic reaction including breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
• faint feeling
• fast or uneven heartbeats
• fever
• hallucinations
• stiff muscles
• sweating and confusion
• tightness in your chest and trouble breathing
• tremors

Less serious side effects of Requip for adults and children may include:

• agitation
• anxiety
• appetite loss
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• headache
• insomnia
• nausea
• sweating
• upset stomach or stomach pain
• vomiting
• worsening of RLS symptoms in the morning

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Requip. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Requip Description and Dosing

Requip is available in pentagonal film-coated TILTAB tablets, with beveled edges.

The 0.25 mg tablets are white and are imprinted with “SB” and “4890”.

The 0.5 mg tablets are yellow and are imprinted with “SB” and “4891”.

The 1 mg tablets are green and are imprinted with “SB” and “4892”.

The 2 mg tablets are pale yellowish-pink and are imprinted with “SB” and “4893”.

The 3 mg tablets are pale to moderate reddish-purple and are imprinted with “SB” and “4895”.

The 4 mg tablets are pale brown and are imprinted with “SB” and “4896”.

The 5 mg tablets are blue and are imprinted with “SB” and “4894”.

Dosing of Requip is individualized based on individual patient needs. Your doctor will tell you what the appropriate dose of Requip is for you. Do not attempt to alter or change your dose without your physician’s consent.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Requip you should seek emergency help immediately.

Ingredients in Requip

The main ingredient in Requip is ropinirole hydrochloride. Inactive ingredients include
croscarmellose sodium, hydrous lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and one or more of the following: carmine, FD&C Blue No. 2 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake, hypromellose, iron oxides, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

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