Experiences with
RopiniroleRopinirole is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease or a heart condition.
Ropinirole comes as tablets, including slow-release tablets. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.
Side effects of ropinirole include feeling or being sick. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.
Ropinirole is not often taken during pregnancy. Check with a pharmacist or doctor before taking it.
It can cause problems to take ropinirole with some other medicines, such as anti-sickness medicines or antidepressants.
Who can take ropinirole
Most adults aged 18 years or over can take ropinirole.
Who may not be able to take ropinirole
Ropinirole is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to ropinirole or any other medicine
- have kidney disease or liver disease
- have a serious heart condition or problems with your blood pressure
- have a serious mental health condition such as psychosis
- are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
Dosage and how to take ropinirole
Ropinirole comes as:
- standard tablets that release the medicine into your body immediately
- slow-release tablets (also called prolonged release) that release the medicine into your body gradually
Standard tablets come in strengths of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg and 5mg.
Slow-release tablets come in strengths of 2mg, 3mg, 4mg, 6mg and 8mg.
You'll usually start on a low dose. Your doctor or specialist nurse will increase your dose gradually until your symptoms are under control. It's best to take the lowest dose to control your symptoms because this helps reduce the chance of side effects.
Dose for Parkinson's disease
If you're taking standard tablets you'll start on 0.25mg, taken 3 times a day. Your dose will be increased each week, up to a usual daily dose of 9mg to 16mg. The maximum daily dose is 24mg.
If you're taking slow-release tablets, you'll usually start on 2mg, taken once a day. Your dose will be increased slowly up to 8mg once a day. If needed the dose can be increased up to a maximum of 24mg once a day.
Dose for restless legs syndrome
You'll usually start on 0.25mg, taken once a day. Your dose will be increased gradually after a few days or weeks, up to a maximum dose of 4mg a day.
How to take it
Try to take your ropinirole at the same time, or times, every day.
If you're taking ropinirole for restless legs syndrome, take it at night just before you go to bed.
If you're taking standard tablets, you can take ropinirole with or without food, but you're less likely to feel sick if you have it with food.
If you're taking slow-release tablets, you can take ropinirole with or without food. However, it's recommended that you do not take it with a high fat meal, as this may increase the amount of ropinirole absorbed by your body.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew the slow-release tablets. This is because they have a coating that lets the medicine into your body gradually.
If you have problems swallowing tablets, speak to a pharmacist, doctor or specialist nurse.
Common side effects of ropinirole
These common side effects of ropinirole happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better.
If you still feel dizzy, lie down so you do not faint, then sit up for a while until you feel better.
Do not drive, cycle, or operate machinery if you feel dizzy. Try to avoid alcohol as it may make you feel worse.
Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids and try to avoid alcohol.
Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery if you're feeling tired or weak.
Try to take ropinirole at a time when you can sit or lie down until you feel better.
If you're still having problems after a week, speak to your doctor.
It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.
If you're in a lot of pain or your pain does not go away, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.
It might help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, and to eat and drink slowly.
Talk to your doctor if the symptoms get worse.
Taking your ropinirole after a meal or a snack can help. Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.
If you're being sick, have small, frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee.
If you keep feeling or being sick, tell your doctor or specialist nurse.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
This should improve as your body gets used to the medicine. If it does not, or the symptoms get worse, speak to your doctor or specialist nurse.
This is most likely if you're also taking medicines for Parkinson's disease that contain levodopa, such as co-careldopa or co-beneldopa.
Let your doctor or specialist nurse know as soon as possible. They may need to adjust your dose or medicine.
Keep taking the medicine, but talk to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Ropinirole and pregnancy
Ropinirole is not often used in pregnancy. This is because there's little information about how the medicine may affect your baby. However, your doctor may advise you to take it if they think the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh any risks.
If you become pregnant while taking ropinirole, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Ropinirole and breastfeeding
Ropinirole is not often used when breastfeeding. It's not known how much ropinirole passes into breast milk.
If your baby is healthy, you may be able to take ropinirole while breastfeeding, but this is usually after specialist advice.
Ropinirole may reduce the amount of milk your body makes, although this is less likely if you've been breastfeeding for a while. This might make breastfeeding more difficult.
It's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.
If your baby has any symptoms, or if you're worried about them, you can call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.
Keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.
Cautions with other medicines
Some medicines do not mix well with ropinirole.
Tell your doctor, specialist nurse or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including:
- anti-sickness medicines, such as metoclopramide or prochlorperazine
- antidepressants or antipsychotic medicines, such as fluvoxamine, sulpiride, amisulpride, risperidone or haloperidol
- hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or contraceptives that contain high levels of oestrogen (ethinylestradiol)
- medicines that can lower your blood pressure – examples include blood pressure medicines, medicines that remove extra fluid from your body (diuretics), or erectile dysfunction medicines such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis)
- ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic
- warfarin, to prevent blood clots (an anticoagulant)
These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with ropinirole. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Taking painkillers with ropinirole
It's usually OK to take mild painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, if you need pain relief.
Check with your doctor before taking any stronger prescription painkillers, including opioids such as codeine, morphine or tramadol.
Related links
HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence
