Requip

Requip is a medication that is commonly used for treating Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome (RLS). It helps increase the amount of dopamine in your brain to trick your nervous system into thinking that it has more than it really does. By doing this, muscles loosen up and become less stiff and rigid; this helps reduce symptoms for patients with Parkinson's disease and RLS.

 

What Is Requip?

Requip® (ropinirole hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat several conditions, including Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome.
 

Who Makes Requip?

Requip is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
 

What Is Requip Used For?

Requip is licensed to treat two conditions:
 
  • Parkinson's disease -- Requip has been approved to treat signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) -- Requip has been approved to treat moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome.
     
Requip has not been approved for use in children.
 

How Does Requip Work?

Requip is part of a class of drugs called dopamine agonists. Dopamine resides in the part of the brain that coordinates muscle movement. When there is less dopamine in this area, muscles tend to become stiff and rigid. Requip helps increase the amount of dopamine in your brain, "fooling" your nervous system into thinking that it has more dopamine than it really does. This helps reduce the symptoms of both Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome.
 

When and How Do I Take Requip?

Requip comes in tablet form. If you are taking it for Parkinson's disease, you take it three times a day. If you are taking it for restless legs syndrome, it is generally taken once a day, one to three hours before bedtime. It is recommended that you take your Requip dose with food to avoid nausea.
 
When you first start taking Requip, you may feel nauseous, dizzy, faint, or sweaty. To minimize the chances of this happening, try not to stand up quickly after lying down.
 
For Requip to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Requip will not work if you stop taking it.
 
(Requip Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;