Doses vary from person to person. Always follow the instructions from your doctor or specialist nurse.
Dosage and how to take ropinirole
Dosage
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.
How long to take it for
You can keep taking this medicine as long as it's controlling your symptoms and you're not having any serious side effects. Many people take ropinirole for many months or years.
If you forget to take it
If you forget a dose of ropinirole, skip the missed dose and take your next one at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never have an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.
If you take ropinirole for Parkinson's disease and miss your doses for 1 day or more, ask your doctor or specialist nurse for advice on how to start taking it again.
If you take ropinirole for restless legs syndrome and miss your doses for more than 2 days, ask your doctor for advice on how to start taking it again.
If you take too much
Taking 1 extra ropinirole tablet is unlikely to harm you, but get medical help if you're concerned.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
You have taken more than your usual dose of ropinirole and:
- you have chest pain
- you have a fast or irregular heartbeat
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than double your total daily dose of ropinirole
- you take more than your usual dose of ropinirole and you have any symptoms or are concerned
Call 111 or get help from 111 online.
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring the ropinirole packet or the leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine, and any other medicines you take.
Stopping ropinirole
If you stop taking ropinirole suddenly, you may have serious withdrawal symptoms such as changes in mood, tiredness, sweating and pain.
Stopping ropinirole suddenly can also cause a rare but serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Symptoms of this can include stiff muscles, a high temperature, confusion or loss of consciousness.
If you need to stop taking ropinirole, your doctor or specialist nurse will reduce the dose gradually. This will help prevent withdrawal effects.
If you stop taking ropinirole, your symptoms will return unless you're taking other medicines for Parkinson's disease or restless legs syndrome.
Important
Do not stop taking ropinirole suddenly or without speaking to your doctor first.