What is Ropinirole Hcl: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Updated Jan 13, 2021  •  Published Dec 30, 2020

Ropinirole Hcl overview

BRAND NAMES:

  • Requip, Requip XL

Generic Names:

  • Ropinirole Hcl

Uses:

  • Treats Parkinson disease and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Therapeutic Classes:

  • Antiparkinsonian

Forms:

  • Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

How it’s taken:

  • By mouth

What form(s) does Ropinirole Hcl come in

  • Tablet

  • Long Acting Tablet

What are common Ropinirole Hcl doses?

  • Tablet 0.25MG

  • Tablet 0.5MG

  • Tablet 1MG

  • Tablet 2MG

  • Tablet 3MG

  • Tablet 4MG

  • Tablet 5MG

Common Ropinirole Hcl prescriptions

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    0.25mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    0.5mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    1mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    2mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    3mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    4mg tablet

  • rOPINIRole HCl
    5mg tablet

How to take Ropinirole Hcl

  • Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

  • The extended-release tablets work differently from the regular tablets, even at the same dose. Do not switch from one form to the other unless your doctor tells you to.

  • Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

  • Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

  • Missed dose: Parkinson disease: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. RLS: Skip the missed dose, and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

  • The extended-release tablets work differently from the regular tablets, even at the same dose. Do not switch from one form to the other unless your doctor tells you to.

  • Missed dose: Parkinson disease: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. RLS: Skip the missed dose, and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

  • Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

  • Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

  • Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Ropinirole Hcl contraindications

  • This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to ropinirole.

Ropinirole Hcl warnings

  • Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

  • This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. It may even cause you to fall asleep without warning. Tell your doctor right away if you learn that this has happened. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand up slowly if you are dizzy.

  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

  • This medicine may cause the following problems:High or low blood pressureHallucinationsDyskinesia (trouble controlling movements)Unusual changes in thoughts or behavior, such as the urge to gamble or an increased sex driveIncreased risk for skin cancer

  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, a sleep disorder, high or low blood pressure, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, lung disease, dyskinesia, or a history of skin cancer or mental health problems. Tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.

  • Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. For RLS, the symptoms might get worse in the early morning, start earlier in the afternoon, or spread to your arms.

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

  • Skin changes or growths

  • Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control (either new or worse than usual)

Ropinirole Hcl interactions

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

  • Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. For RLS, the symptoms might get worse in the early morning, start earlier in the afternoon, or spread to your arms.

  • Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

  • This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. It may even cause you to fall asleep without warning. Tell your doctor right away if you learn that this has happened. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand up slowly if you are dizzy.

  • Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

  • Some foods and medicines can affect how ropinirole works. Tell your doctor knows if you are using any of the following:Ciprofloxacin, levodopa, metoclopramide, thiothixeneBirth control pills, or estrogen to treat menopausal symptomsPhenothiazine medicine (such as chlorpromazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine, thioridazine)

Ropinirole Hcl side effects

Serious Side Effects

  • Skin changes or growths

  • Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there

  • Extreme sleepiness or drowsiness

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

  • Chest pain, trouble breathing, fast or slow heartbeat

  • Confusion, unusual changes in mood or behavior, behaviors you cannot control

  • Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control (either new or worse than usual)

  • Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

  • Fever, sweating, muscle stiffness

Less Serious Side Effects

  • Nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach upset

  • Headache

  • Tiredness