Parkinson’s Disease, Restless Legs Syndrome.
Dopamine Agonist; Antiparkinson agent
Ropinirole is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist. Ropinirole has the highest affinity at the D3 receptors, which are concentrated in the limbic areas of the brain and may be responsible for some of the neuropsychiatric effects. The exact mechanism of action of ropinirole as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease is unknown, however, it is believed to be related to its ability to selectively stimulate dopamine D2 receptors within the caudate-putamen system in the brain. This system affects body movement. Negligible affinity is seen for ropinirole at α2 adrenoreceptors in the periphery and 5HT-1 receptor. Ropinirole has no affinity at the D1-like receptors, benzodiazepine or GABA receptors. The precise mechanism of action of ropinirole as a treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome is unknown, however, it is believed to be related to its ability to stimulate dopamine receptors.
Parkinson’s Disease: Starting dose is 0.25 mg 3 times daily. After week 4, if necessary, daily dosage may be increased by 1.5 mg/day on a weekly basis up to a dose of 9 mg/day, & then by up to 3 mg/day weekly to a total dose of 24 mg/day. Restless Legs Syndrome: Starting dosage is 0.25 mg once daily, 1 to 3 hours before bedtime. After 2 days, the dosage can be increased to 0.5 mg once daily & to 1 mg once daily at the end of the first week of dosing.
Because Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist, it is possible that dopamine antagonists such as neuroleptics (phenothiazines, butyrophenones, thioxanthenes) or metodopramide may reduce the efficacy of Ropinirole.
Hypersensitivity to Ropinirole, patients with severe cardiovascular disease should be treated with caution. As with other dopaminergic drugs, caution should be exercised when these compounds are given concomitantly with Ropinirole because of the unknown potential for the occurrence of hypotension, bradycardias or other arrhythmias. Patients should be informed & advised to exercise caution while driving or operating machines during treatment with Ropinirole.
Nausea, somnolence, leg edema, abdominal pain, vomiting, syncope, decreases in systolic blood pressure, symptomatic hypotension, bradycardia, excessive daytime somnolence & sudden sleep onset episodes.
Ropinirole should not be used during pregnancy & in nursing mothers.
Protect from light and moisture, store below 25°C. Keep out of the reach of children.
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