Requip Xl 4mg Prolonged Release Tablets
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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
REQUIP® XL 4mg prolonged-release Tablets
(ropinirole hydrochloride)
Your medicine is available using the name Requip XL 4mg prolonged-release Tablets, but will be referred to as Requip XL throughout this leaflet. Other strengths 2mg & 8mg are also available.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
■ Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
■ If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse specialist or pharmacist.
■ This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Don't 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, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Requip XL is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Requip XL
3. How to take Requip XL
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Requip XL
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Requip XL is and what it is used for
Requip XL is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
The active ingredient in Requip XL 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.
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.
You can take Requip XL (like Requip) either on its own or along with L-dopa (see section 4 of this leaflet for more details). Requip XL should be prescribed and your progress monitored by a doctor with experience in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
2. What you need to know before you take Requip XL
Do not take Requip XL:
■ if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to ropinirole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
■ if you have serious kidney disease
■ if you have liver disease
^ Tell your doctor or nurse if you think any of these may apply to you.
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Requip XL:
■ 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 history of or currently have a serious mental health problem
■ if you have a history of or have experienced any unusual urges and/or behaviours (such as excessive gambling or excessive sexual behaviour, see section 4)
■ if you have an intolerance to some sugars (such as lactose).
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 your dose.
^ Tell your doctor or nurse if you think any of these may apply to you. Your doctor or nurse may decide that Requip XL isn't suitable for you, or that you need extra check-ups while you're taking it.
You also need to be careful with Requip XL if you drive or operate machinery. Please read the warning in section 3 of this leaflet.
Other medicines and Requip XL
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking,
have recently taken, or might take any other medicines -
including any herbal remedies or medicines you bought without a prescription.
Some medicines can affect the way Requip XL works, or make it more likely that you'll have side effects. Requip XL can also affect the way some other medicines work.
These include:
■ the anti-depressant, fluvoxamine
■ HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
■ medication for other mental health problems, for example sulpiride
■ metoclopramide, which is used to treat nausea and heartburn
■ cimetidine, used in the treatment of stomach ulcers
■ the antibiotics, ciprofloxacin or enoxacin
■ any other medicine for Parkinson's disease.
^ Tell your doctor or nurse if you're taking, or have recently taken, any of these.
Remember to tell your doctor or nurse if you start taking any other medicine while you're taking Requip XL.
Requip XL with food and drink
You can take Requip XL with or without food, as you prefer. Because high fat foods might increase the amount of ropinirole absorbed by your body, it is recommended that you do not take Requip XL at the same time as a high fat meal.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Requip XL is not recommended if you are pregnant, unless your doctor advises that the benefit of you taking Requip XL is greater than the risk to your unborn baby.
Requip XL is not recommended if you are breast-feeding, 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.
Driving and using machines
Requip XL can make you feel drowsy or dizzy.
It can make people feel extremely sleepy, and it sometimes makes people fall asleep very suddenly without warning.
If you could be affected: don't drive, don't operate machines
and don't put yourself in any situation where feeling sleepy or falling asleep could put you (or other people) at risk of serious injury or death. Don't take part in these activities until you are sure you're not affected.
^ Talk to your doctor or nurse if this causes problems for you.
Requip XL contains lactose and sunset yellow
Requip XL tablets contain a sugar called lactose. If you have been told that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor or nurse before taking Requip XL.
The 4mg tablets contain a colouring called sunset yellow (E110), which may cause allergic reactions.
Smoking and Requip XL
Tell your doctor or nurse if you start smoking, or give up smoking, while you're taking Requip XL. Your doctor or nurse may need to adjust your dose.
3. How to take Requip XL
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Do not give Requip XL to children. Requip XL is not normally prescribed for people under 18.
You may be given Requip XL on its own to treat the symptoms of your Parkinson's disease. Or you may be given Requip XL as well as another medicine called L-dopa (also called levodopa). Requip XL should be prescribed and your progress monitored by a doctor with experience in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
If you are taking L-dopa you may experience some uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias) when you first start taking Requip XL. Tell your doctor if this happens, as your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the medicines you are taking.
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 Requip XL. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
If you are switching from Requip film-coated (immediate-release) tablets
Your doctor or nurse will base your dose of Requip XL on the dose of Requip you were taking. You will take the same or similar daily dose of Requip XL to your previous dose of Requip but you will only take Requip XL once a day.
Take your Requip as normal the day before you switch. Then take your Requip XL on the next day and don't take any more Requip. Your doctor or nurse will be monitoring your progress closely after switching to Requip XL. If there is any change in the control of your symptoms before your next appointment, talk to your doctor or nurse as soon as possible in case dose adjustment is needed.
How much Requip XL will you need to take?
It may take a while to find out the best dose of Requip XL for you.
The recommended starting dose of Requip XL tablets is 2mg once daily for the first week. Your doctor may increase your dose to 4mg of Requip XL tablets once daily, from the second week of treatment. If you are very elderly your doctor may increase your dose more slowly. After that, the doctor may adjust your dose until you are taking the dose that is best for you. Some people take up to 24mg of Requip XL each day.
If at the start of your treatment, you experience side effects that you find difficult to tolerate, speak to your doctor. Your doctor may advise you to switch to a lower dose of Requip film-coated (immediate-release) tablets which you will take three times a day.
Don't take more Requip XL than your doctor or nurse has recommended.
It may take a few weeks for Requip XL to work for you.
Taking your dose of Requip XL
Take Requip XL once a day, at the same time each day.
Swallow your Requip XL tablets whole, with a glass of water.
Don't break, chew or crush the tablets - if you do, there's a danger you could overdose, because the medicine will be released into your body too quickly.
Requip XL are designed to release the drug into your body over a 24 hour period. If the tablets pass through your body in less than 24 hours the medicine may not be completely released. You may see tablets in your stool. If this happens, let your doctor know.
If you take more Requip XL than you should
Contact a doctor, nurse or pharmacist immediately. If
possible, show them the Requip XL pack.
Someone who has taken an overdose of Requip XL may have any of these symptoms: feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), dizziness (a spinning sensation), feeling drowsy, mental or physical tiredness, fainting, hallucinations.
If you forget to take Requip XL
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you have missed taking Requip XL for one day or more,
ask your doctor or nurse for advice on how to start taking it again.
Don't stop taking Requip XL without advice Take Requip XL for as long as your doctor or nurse recommends. Don't stop unless your doctor or nurse advises you to.
If you suddenly stop taking Requip XL, your Parkinson's disease symptoms may quickly get much worse.
If you need to stop taking Requip XL, your doctor or nurse will reduce your dose gradually.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can have side effects, but not everyone gets them.
The more common side effects of Requip XL 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've taken the dose for a while. If you're worried about side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse.
Very common side effects:
may affect more than 1 in 10 people
■ fainting
■ feeling drowsy
■ feeling sick (nausea).
Common side effects:
may affect up to 1 in 10 people
■ hallucinations (sensing things that are not real)
■ being sick (vomiting)
■ feeling dizzy (a spinning sensation)
■ heartburn
■ stomach pain
■ constipation
■ swelling of the legs, feet or hands.
Uncommon side effects:
may affect up to 1 in 100 people
■ feeling dizzy or faint, especially when you stand up suddenly (this is caused by a drop in blood pressure)
■ feeling very sleepy during the day
■ 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).
You may experience the following 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.
Very rare side effects:
may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
A very small number of people taking Requip XL (less than 1 in 10,000) have experienced:
■ changes in liver function, which have shown up in blood tests
■ 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.
Some patients may have the following side effects (frequency not known)
■ act in an aggressive manner.
If you're taking Requip XL with L-dopa
People who are taking Requip XL 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 Requip XL. Tell your doctor if this happens, as your doctor may need to adjust the dose 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 Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Requip XL
■ Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
■ Don't use Requip XL after the expiry date shown on the blister and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
■ Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package.
■ If your tablets appear to be discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, please return to your pharmacist who will advise you further.
■ If you have any unwanted Requip XL, take them back to your pharmacist, who will dispose of them in a way that won't harm the environment.
■ Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Requip XL contains
The active substance in Requip XL is ropinirole.
Each prolonged-release tablet contains 4mg of ropinirole (as hydrochloride).
The other ingredients are:
■ tablet core: hypromellose, castor oil hydrogenated, carmellose sodium, povidone K29/32, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate,
silica colloidal anhydrous, mannitol (E421), yellow iron oxide (E172) and glycerol dibehenate
■ film coat: Opadry Tan OY-27207 (hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 400, sunset yellow (E110) and indigo carmine (E132))
What Requip XL looks like and contents of the pack
Requip XL are light-brown, capsule-shaped, film-coated tablets marked 'G S' on one side and 'W X G' on the reverse.
Requip XL is available in blister packs containing 28 tablets.
Manufacturer
Manufactured by: Glaxo Wellcome GmbH & Co. KG, Industriestrasse 32-36, 23843 Bad Oldesloe, Germany.
Or
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA, UI. Grunwaldzka,
60-322, Poznan, Poland.
Or
SmithKline Beecham Plc, T/A SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex,
RH10 9QJ, United Kingdom.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by: Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd., Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, DN3 1QR.
Product Licence holder: Landmark Pharma Ltd., 7 Regents Drive, Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 6PX.
PL No: 21828/0348 POM
Other formats:
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call: 01302 365000 and ask for the Regulatory Department.
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Requip XL 4mg prolonged-release Tablets
Reference number 21828/0348
Leaflet revision date: 18.06.14
REQUIP® is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
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