Ropinirole (requip) shortage and discontinuation by GlaxoSmithKline

[Gymsack]

The FDA has announced the upcoming discontinuation for Parkinson disease and restless legs syndrome treatment ropinirole hydrochloride (Requip, GlaxoSmithKline).

According to the FDA notice, the non-ergot dopamine agonist will be discontinued in its tablet form as well as some of its extended-release tablet formulations. The therapy is anticipated to cease availability of these forms by May 2023. The FDA notice stated that these discontinuations are the result of a business decision.

I learned of this only when my pharmacy called to say that they could not fill my repeated prescription for 4 x 2mg per day and that they had tried everywhere possible and had sent my Neurologist a telefax asking for an alternative. They had received no prior notification ,and the situation may be the same world wide and I had run out by this point. My wife takes one x 1 mg per day also for Restless legs . My Neuro gave me a new prescription for a different medication which I obtained and very quickly determined that I could not take it.

The Neuro then gave me a prescription for NEUPRO 2 mg PATCH /24 hrs

with the following directions

one patch 2 mg / 24 hours once daily for 14 days

then two patches 2 mg each (total 4 mg) once daily for 14 days

followed by one 6 mg patch / 24 hours, once daily for 14 days

I was concerned about weaning off the Ropinirole cold turkey so we called many drugstores with the advice that older, smaller pharmacies may be the most likely to have some old stock due to a customer dying and no one else requiring it, and this was exactly the case. My neuro then sent the country pharmacy a prescription for a transition amount to let me slowly discontinue taking it.

It is possible that some other manufacturer will jump in and start making it or that a world wide shortage and discontinuation will result or both.

Good Luck

[Gymsack]

Alternatives

singlecare.com/blog/ropinir...

It is within a company's rights to make a business decision as to which products to manufacture or not, just as it is my right to decide which pharma company I will purchase products from.

[Sydney75 in reply to Gymsack]

Correct because Pharma's focus is $$$ not the patient.

[Hidden]

Try with this one

Requip

[purple-0217]

Well, I am taking that not for restless leg but I thought parkinsons. I guess I will have the same issue as you.

[laglag]

Is it just for one manufacturer, GLAXOSMITHKLINE ?

drugs.com/availability/gene...

🥊

[Lyricist]

The Requip XL extended release tablets will be continued with the exception of the 2mg tablet which is to be discontinued.

[Gymsack in reply to Lyricist]

What about the 1 mg that my wife takes for restless legs

[Lyricist in reply to Gymsack]

my understanding is that the only Ropinirole tablets to continue to be manufactured are the XL (extended release) 4mg and above branded Requip XL versions. The 1mg tablet was not specifically mentioned in the announcement I read so must be assumed to be discontinued. I am no doctor but I read that Pramipexole is being considered as a substitute. The consequences of any move to discontinue the remaining extended release versions of Ropinirole could be catastrophic for many of us

[Lyricist]

and I should add that what I read related to GSK only

[taxidermy1944]

I am also Canadian and cannot get Ropinorole any longer. After 2days of painful leg cramps and no sleep I got an ER Dr to prescribe an alternative auro-Pramipexole .25 mg. It took a few days to take effect but is working. I was told it is the closest alternative . Hope this helps your situation.

[Gymsack in reply to taxidermy1944]

Ah so my leg cramps was not a coincidence

[Gymsack in reply to taxidermy1944]

Pramipexole was also the first alternative medication prescribed by my Neuroligist. I have a pre existing heart condition and have 4 stints at the same location . The first time I took one Pramipexole I had an immediate reaction that stayed with me several hours. It was like everything had been put into a bag ,shaken and dumped on the floor, weak , difficult breathing and thinking ,heart racing unable to do anything.

Next he prescribed Neupro transdermal system , resulting in 14 days wearing a 2mg /24 hour patch and then 14 days wearing a 4mg /24 hour patch which seemed to be working very well and then I tried the 6mg / 24 hour patch. Boom the reaction was similar to the Pramipexole with my heart. I tried the next day and each day after for a total of 3 days to use a small 2 mg patch all with an immediate reaction in my heart. I have not used it since but for several days the effect lingered and is still there if I try to exert myself in any way.

I am hoping that as the Patch medication level slowly reduces in my body that my heart condition will improve.

The pharmacy that I use says that they have no access to any Ropinirole of any kind in Canada. I am scheduled for full examination of my heart but the PD is out of control. I am taking what action I can and have increased the amount of daily Levadopa/carbadopa to 2 every 2.5 hours from 2 every 3 hours but it is not where I was before the discontinuation.

The side effects of the medication is my reaction only, and may be nothing like someone else's. just be watchful.

GymBag