Requip

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of ropinirole in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric

Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of ropinirole.

Breast Feeding

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Warfarin

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eye problems, especially with the retina—Animal studies have shown that problems with the retina may occur; it is not certain if this may occur in humans

• Dyskinesia (trouble controlling your muscles) or
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
• Postural hypotension (dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when getting up from a lying or sitting position)—Ropinirole may make these conditions worse.

• Kidney problems—May increase chance of side effects

• Liver problems—Higher blood levels of ropinirole may result, and cause an increase in side effects
• Lung problems resulting from treatment with some other Parkinson's disease medicines—Ropinirole may cause the condition to recur

• Sleep disorders or
• Sleepiness, history of in the past—May cause side effects to be worse