ABSTRACT
Ropinirole pharmacotherapy may be prescribed for the symptomatic management of Parkinson’s disease alone or in combination with levodopa pharmacotherapy. Ropinirole is well absorbed from the GI tract following oral ingestion with peak blood concentrations occurring within 1 to 2 hours. Food decreases the rate of ropinirole’s absorption but does not affect the extent of absorption. Concurrent alcohol use may increase the CNS depressant action of ropinirole. Advise patients to avoid, or limit, their use of alcohol while receiving ropinirole pharmacotherapy. Concurrent ropinirole pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy with opiate analgesics, sedative-hypnotics, or other drugs that produce CNS depression may result in additive CNS depression. Signs and symptoms of ropinirole overdosage include agitation, chest pain, confusion, dyskinesias, grogginess, nausea, orthostatic hypotension, sedation, and vomiting. Ropinirole overdosage should be treated as a medical emergency requiring symptomatic medical support of body systems with attention to increasing ropinirole elimination.
