Requip XL and/or Equivalents

Requip XL

Requip XL Drug Description

Requip XL is the brand name of a medicine that belongs to the group of medications commonly known as antiparkinsonian agents. It is prescribed in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. If you or your loved one is suffering from this disease, the physician will prescribe Requip XL in order to bring about an improvement in muscle control and movement of limbs. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease in which there is a gradual loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that aids in the control and coordination of movements. A decreasing level of dopamine in the brain thereby results in uncontrolled shaking of the face, feet or hands, improper gait and balance and difficulty in movement. Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases across the world and affects mainly the geriatric population. The prime ingredient in Requip XL is ropinirole hydrochloride. The tablet is available in an extended release formulation with five different strengths of 2mg, 4mg, 6mg, 8mg, and 12 mg. All the tablets are film-coated, capsule shaped and biconvex with different colours for easy visual identification of individual strength. The 2mg tablet is pink coloured with ‘GS’ and ‘3V2’ embossed on either side. It is available in bottles of thirty and ninety tablets. The 4mg tablet is light brown coloured with ‘GS’ and ‘WXG’ embossed on either side. It is available in bottles of thirty and ninety tablets. The 6mg tablet is white coloured with ‘GS’ and ‘11F’ embossed on either side. It is available in bottles of thirty tablets. The 8mg tablet is red coloured with ‘GS’ and ‘5CC’ embossed on either side. It is available in bottles of thirty and ninety tablets. The 12mg tablet is green coloured with ‘GS’ and ‘YX7’ embossed on either side. It is available in bottles of thirty tablets. Excipients in all the tablets include colloidal silicon dioxide, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, glyceryl behenate, hypromellose, hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate, mannitol, maltodextrin, povidone, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol 400 along with FD&C Blue No. 2 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake and ferric oxides (yellow, red, black) depending on the colour of the individual tablets. Requip XL is approved by the FDA and available only on prescription. It is presented by GlaxoSmithKline Ltd.

Conditions Treated by Requip XL

Requip XL is prescribed for the treatment of the typical symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. It works by restoring the balance of dopamine in the brain, thereby helping the patient to gain better control and coordination during movement. Requip XL therefore helps to alleviate the most common signs of Parkinson’s disease like involuntary shaking of face, limbs, stiffness in movement and unsteady gait. It is often prescribed concomitantly with levadopa for better results.

Requip XL Dosage Information

a.) Typical dosage recommendations

Typical dose of a medicine depends on several individual patient conditions like age, body weight, compliance, requirement, present & past medical history and much more. In general, the starting dose of Requip XL 2mg to be taken once per day for one or two weeks. This is to be followed by an incremental dose of 2mg per day for one week or a longer duration up to a maximum of 24mg per day. The dose is suitably titrated by the physician depending on individual patient response and requirement.

b.) Missing a dose

In case you have missed taking a particular dose of Requip XL, take it as soon as you remember it. However, skip the missed dose in case you are about to take your next scheduled dose. Never take two doses at a time in order to compensate for a missed dose.

c.) Overdosing

In case you have overdosed Requip XL, contact your physician immediately for treatment of overdose symptoms like nausea, weakness, vomiting, agitation, hallucinations, fainting, tingly feeling, confusion, chest pain and muscle twitching.

Requip XL Warnings

Before taking Requip XL, inform your physician if you are allergic to ropinirole hydrochloride, the prime ingredient or to any of the other inactive ingredients present in the in medicine. You must also share all information about your past and present medical condition, any other medicine that you are taking presently or if you are allergic to any other substance. Tell your physician if you are suffering from any cardiac disorder or hepatic or renal impairment so that he can decide the safety and efficacy of the medicine after considering your condition. Take Requip XL exactly as recommended by your physician. Do not alter dose or stop taking the medicine without medical consultation. Swallow the tablet whole without crushing, chewing or breaking it. Requip XL may cause certain changes in your behaviour like creating an unusual liking for gambling, hallucinations, feeling of paranoia, unexplained anxiety, nervousness or a feeling of not being yourself. Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the above. Taking Requip XL may also result in breathing problems as ropinirole has been known to thicken or scar the tissues of the heart and lungs. During the initial days of treatment or when you are beginning to take an increased dose, you may feel dizzy while suddenly getting up from a sitting or lying position. Ropinirole can lead to a fatal condition known as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) that has symptoms like loss of consciousness, muscle stiffness, high fever, confusion, irregular heartbeat or sweating. The occurrence of this condition is particularly noticed when the dose is decreased or discontinued suddenly. You should therefore discuss the correct method of dose reduction with your physician in order to avoid this condition. You may experience sudden somnolence while undergoing treatment with Requip XL. This can happen any time during the day or while you are performing your regular activities. It is therefore advisable to drive or operate machines with caution or to avoid all activities that require alertness while taking this medicine. Before taking Requip XL, inform your physician if you are pregnant, plan to conceive or if you are nursing. Always store the medicine in a cool and dark place at a temperature of 25°C. Do not share the medicine with another person and keep away from the reach of children and pets.

Requip XL Side Effects

Typical side effects of Requip XL include the following:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Loss of appetite
• Increased sweating
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Decrease in sexual desire or performance
• Sneezing
• Hallucination
• Hot flashes
• Nasal congestion
• Yawning
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Breathing difficulties

Requip XL Drug Interactions

Both the active and inactive ingredients of Requip XL may react with other formulations. Your physicians must therefore know about all other prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking presently including vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal medicines etc. You must also discuss your addictions, if any, towards street drugs, caffeine, tobacco or alcohol.

If you have any questions about buying discount Requip XL online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Requip XL and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information