What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Ropinirole:
Some people taking ropinirole have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. If you are unsure of how this medicine will affect you, be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use ropinirole, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Moreover, please inform your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: levodopa; ciprofloxacin (Cipro®); a medication used to treat nausea and vomiting or mental illness, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), fluphenazine (Prolixin®), mesoridazine (Serentil®), perphenazine (Trilafon®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), promazine (Sparine®), trifluoperazine (Stelazine®), thiothixene (Navane®), or haloperidol (Haldol®); or an estrogen (such as Premarin®, Prempro®, Estratest®, Ogen®, Estraderm®, Climara®, Vivelle®, estradiol, and others). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use ropinirole, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed above that can affect ropinirole use. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, including vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without first telling your doctor.
This medication is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Furthermore, it is not known whether ropinirole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. However, ropinirole may reduce breast milk production so do not take ropinirole without telling your doctor that you are breast-feeding a baby.
Ropinirole may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you experience hallucinations.
Additionally, this medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid smoking, which can make ropinirole less effective.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as alcohol, cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by ropinirole.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of ropinirole.
Dizziness or drowsiness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly and use caution to prevent a fall.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Dosage and using this medicine
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?