How and when to take ropinirole

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.