Ropinirole 5mg Film-Coated Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER Ropinirole 5mg Film-coated Tablets Ropinirole Hydrochloride
(Referred to as Ropinirole Tablets in remainder of the leaflet)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you
start taking this medicine because it
contain important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Ropinirole Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ropinirole Tablets
3. How to take Ropinirole Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ropinirole Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Ropinirole Tablets are and what they are used for
The active ingredient in Ropinirole Tablets is ropinirole which belongs to a group of medicines called dopamine agonists. Dopamine agonists affect the brain in a similar way to a natural substance called dopamine. Ropinirole Tablets are used to treat Parkinson's disease. People with Parkinson's disease have low levels of dopamine in some parts of their brains. Ropinirole has effects similar to those of natural dopamine, so it helps to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
2. What you need to know before you take Ropinirole Tablets
Do not take Ropinirole Tablets:
• if you are allergic to ropinirole or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have a serious kidney disease
• if you have a liver disease
Tell your doctor if you think any of these may apply to you
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ropinirole Tablets:
• if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• if you are breast feeding
• if you are under 18 years old
• if you have a serious heart complaint
• if you have a serious mental health problem
• are taking medicines to treat high blood pressure
• are taking medicines to control your heart beat
Tell your doctor if you or your family/carer notices that you are developing urges or cravings to behave in ways that are unusual for you and you cannot resist the impulse, drive, or temptation to carry out certain activities that could harm yourself or others. These are called impulse control disorders and can include behaviours such as addictive gambling, excessive eating or spending, an abnormally high sex drive or an increase in sexual thoughts or feelings. Your doctor may need to adjust or stop you dose.
Tell your doctor if you think any of these may apply to you. Your doctor may decide that Ropinirole Tablets aren't suitable for you, or that you need extra check-ups while you are taking them.
Other medicines and Ropinirole Tablets
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including any herbal medicines or other medicines you have obtained without a prescription. Remember to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you begin taking a new medicine while you are taking Ropinirole Tablets. Some medicines can affect the way Ropinirole Tablets work, or make it more likely that you will have side effects. Ropinirole Tablets can also affect the way some other medicines work.
These include:
• the anti-depressant fluvoxamine
• medications for other mental health problems, for example sulpiride
• hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• metoclopramide, which is used to treat nausea and heartburn
• the antibiotics ciprofloxacin or enoxacin
• any other medicine for Parkinson's disease
• any other drug which blocks the action of dopamine in the brain
Ropinirole Tablets with food and drink
If you take Ropinirole tablets with food, you may be less likely to feel sick (nauseous) or be sick (vomit). So it's best to take it with food if you can.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding
Pregnancy
Ropinirole Tablets are not recommended if you are pregnant, unless your doctor advises that the benefit to you of taking Ropinirole Tablets is greater than the risk to your unborn baby.
Breast-feeding
Ropinirole Tablets are not recommended if you are breastfeeding, as it can affect your milk production.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
While you are taking Ropinirole Tablets
Tell your doctor if you or your family notices that you are developing any unusual behaviours (such as an unusual urge to gamble or increased sexual urges and/or behaviours) while you are taking Ropinirole Tablets. Your doctor may need to adjust or stop your dose.
Driving and using machines
Ropinirole Tablets can make you feel drowsy.
In very rare cases, Ropinirole Tablets can make people feel extremely sleepy, and it sometimes makes people fall asleep very suddenly without warning. If you could be affected: do not drive, do not operate machines and do not put yourself in any situation where feeling sleepy or falling asleep could put you (or other people) at risk of serious injury or death. Do not take part in these activities until you are no longer affected.
Talk to your doctor if this causes problems for you.
Smoking and Ropinirole Tablets
Tell your doctor if you start smoking, or give up smoking, while you are taking Ropinirole Tablets. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
Ropinirole Tablets contain lactose
This medicine contains lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you tolerate certain sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Ropinirole Tablets
Always take Ropinirole Tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
This medicine is to be swallowed whole with water and preferably with food.
When you begin taking Ropinirole Tablets your dose will be increased gradually. It may take a while to find the right dose for you.
Adults
The recommended dose is 0.25mg three times a day. After one week your doctor may increase your dose to 0.5mg three times a day. Then your doctor may increase your dose gradually over the next two weeks, up to a daily dose of 3mg per day.
If a 3mg daily dose does not improve your symptoms enough, your doctor may gradually increase you dose to a maximum of 9mg per day.
If you are also taking other medicines for Parkinson's disease, your doctor may advise you to gradually reduce the dose of the other medicine. If you are taking L-dopa you may experience some uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias) when you first start taking Ropinirole Tablets. Tell your doctor if this happens, as your doctor may need to adjust the doses of the medicines you are taking.
Use in children and adolescents
Do not give Ropinirole Tablets to children. Ropinirole Tablets are not normally prescribed for people under 18 years of age.
If you take more Ropinirole Tablets than you should
Contact a doctor or pharmacist or go to your nearest hospital casualty department immediately. Take this leaflet and any unused tablets with you to show the doctor.
The symptoms of overdose includes feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), dizziness, feeling drowsy, mental or physical tiredness, fainting, hallucinations.
Please be ready to give the following information:
|
Product name |
Reference number |
|
Ropinirole 5mg Film-coated tablets |
29831/0417 |
If you forget to take Ropinirole Tablets
If you forget to take your medicine take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take the missed dose at all. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you have missed taking Ropinirole Tablets for one day or more, ask your doctor for advice on how to start taking it again.
If you stop taking Ropinirole Tablets Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly
without consulting your doctor.
A sudden stop could cause you to develop a medical condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome which may represent a major health risk. The symptoms include: akinesia (loss of muscle movement), rigid muscles, fever, unstable blood pressure, tachycardia (increased heart rate), confusion, depressed level of consciousness (e.g. coma).
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Ropinirole Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects of Ropinirole Tablets are more likely to happen when you first start taking it, or when your dose has just been increased. They are usually mild, and may become less troublesome after you have taken the dose for a while. If you're worried about side effects, talk to your doctor.
If you notice any of the following side effects, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital immediately:
• allergic reactions such as red, itchy swellings on the skin (hives), swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, rash or intense itching (see Section 2).
• low blood pressure (feeling faint, dizzy or light headed)
The following side effects may be experienced when taking Ropinirole Tablets:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• feeling drowsy or sleepy (somnolence)
• feeling sick (nausea)
• fainting.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
• dizziness (or a spinning sensation)
• stomach pains
• being sick (vomiting)
• indigestion or heartburn
• swelling of your legs
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• feeling dizzy or faint, especially when standing up from a sitting down or lying position (this is caused by a drop in blood pressure)
• feeling very sleepy during the day (extreme somnolence)
• falling asleep very suddenly without feeling sleepy first (sudden sleep onset episodes)
• mental problems such as delirium (severe confusion), delusions (unreasonable ideas) or paranoia (unreasonable suspicions).
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• a very small number of people taking Ropinirole Tablets have had changes in liver function, which have shown up in blood tests.
• Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome (DDS) (craving dopaminergic medication, euphoric feelings after taking Ropinirole Tablets, compulsive behaviour)
Some patients may have the following uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) side effects
• inability to resist the impulse, drive or temptation to perform an action that could be harmful to you or others, which may include:
• strong impulse to gamble excessively despite serious personal or family consequences
• altered or increased sexual interest and behaviour of significant concern to you or to others, for example, an increased sexual drive
• uncontrollable excessive shopping or spending
• binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short time period) or compulsive eating (eating more food than normal and more than is needed to satisfy your hunger)
Tell your doctor if you experience any of these behaviours; they will discuss ways of managing or reducing the symptoms.
If you are taking Ropinirole Tablets with L-dopa
People who are taking Ropinirole Tablets with L-dopa may develop other side effects
over time:
• uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias) are a very common side effect. If you are taking L-dopa you
may
experience
some
uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias) when you first start taking Ropinirole Tablets. Tell
your doctor if this happens, as your doctor may need to adjust the doses of the medicines you are taking.
• feeling confused is a common side effect
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting systems listed below:
United Kingdom:
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
Malta:
ADR Reporting,
Website:
www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/adrportal
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Ropinirole Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
Do not use Ropinirole Tablets after the expiry date stated on the blister or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
For tablets packed in plastic bottles:
Ropinirole Tablets can be used for one month after first opening of the container.
Blisters: Store below 25°C. Store in the original package (blister) in order to protect from moisture.
HDPE bottles: Store below 25°C. Keep the bottle tightly closed in order to protect from moisture.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Ropinirole Tablets contain
The active ingredient is: ropinirole hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose (6cps), magnesium stearate.
Film coating: opadry pink 03B84727 (hypromellose 6cps, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132)).
What Ropinirole Film-coated tablets look like and the contents of the pack Ropinirole 5mg Film-coated tablets are blue irregular hexagonal shape film-coated tablets, debossed 'W' on one side and '177' on the other side
These tablets are available in:
• blister packs of 12, 28 or 100 tablets
• HDPE container with child resistant cap of 30 or 84 tablets
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Wockhardt UK Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK.
Manufacturer: CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd,
Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK.
Other formats:
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For the Republic of Ireland please call +44 1978 669 272
This leaflet was last revised in 03/2016