Requip

Drug name: Requip


Other names used:

• Adartrel®
• Repreve®
• Ropinirole®

Active Ingredients: ropinirole hydrochloride

Therapeutic actions: Requip works by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain, thus promoting better, easier movement. Requip is not a cure for Parkinson's disease. However, it does alleviate symptoms of the disease, and it can shorten the "off" periods of immobility that patients on long-term levodopa therapy often begin to experience.

Indications: Requip helps relieve the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Caused by a deficit of dopamine (one of the brain's chief chemical messengers), this disorder is marked by progressive muscle stiffness, tremor, and fatigue

Contraindications and cautions: At the start of Requip therapy and whenever the dose is increased, you face a slightly increased risk of a fainting spell or other symptoms of low blood pressure such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, and light-headedness, particularly when you get up suddenly after sitting or reclining for a prolonged period. To avoid such symptoms, be careful to stand up slowly.
A few patients--especially older ones--also develop hallucinations. Let your doctor know if this occurs. You may have to stop Requip therapy.
Use Requip with caution if you have heart disease. There is also a slight chance of developing respiratory difficulties or problems with your eyesight. If you find it hard to breathe, have any swelling, or develop problems with your vision, alert your doctor at once.
If you are taking Sinemet with Requip, you may experience jerking muscle movements. Tell your doctor. He will need to decrease your dose of Sinemet.
With other Parkinson's medications, a sudden dose reduction has been known to cause high fever, muscle stiffness, and loss of consciousness. Although this has not happened with Requip, be alert for such problems and contact your doctor immediately if they occur.
Requip may cause drowsiness, and some people have reported falling asleep without warning during their daily activities. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how the drug affects you. If you find that Requip makes you sleepy or that you're suddenly falling asleep in the middle of routine activities, tell your doctor; he will probably discontinue the drug.
Requip may also cause darkening of your skin and eye color. Tell your doctor if you notice any change.

Adverse effects: Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Requip.
More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal dreaming, abnormal muscle movements, abnormal vision, amnesia, anxiety, arthritis, bronchitis, confusion, constipation, decreased muscle movements, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, eye problems, fainting, falling, fatigue, hallucinations, headache, increased sweating, indigestion, joint pain, leg swelling, nausea, nervousness, pain, paralysis, respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sinus inflammation, skin tingling, sore throat, swelling, tremor, urinary tract infection, viral infections, vomiting, weakness If Requip gives you an allergic reaction, you will not be able to continue using it.

Interactions: If Requip is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either can be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Requip with the following:

• Alcohol
• Antidepressants such as Elavil, Pamelor, and Tofranil
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Drugs that contain levodopa such as Dopar, Larodopa, and Sinemet
• Estrogen medications such as ethinyl estradiol (Estinyl)
• Major tranquilizers such as Haldol, Mellaril, Navane, Prolixin, and Thorazine
• Metoclopramide (Reglan)
• Tranquilizers such as the benzodiazepines Ativan, Librium, Valium, and Xanax

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.