This article describes ropinirole oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for ropinirole. If you want to know more about ropinirole oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Ropinirole oral tablet is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version. Ropinirole also comes in an extended-release (ER) form taken by mouth, but the ER form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about the ER form, talk with your doctor.
Form and strengths of ropinirole
Ropinirole oral tablet comes as follows:
- Form: tablet that you swallow
- Strengths: 0.25 milligrams (mg), 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg, and 5 mg
Dosage of ropinirole
This article describes the recommended dosages for ropinirole oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of ropinirole oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of ropinirole
Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of ropinirole oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of ropinirole oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.
Dosages in the following tables are expressed in milligrams (mg).
Dosage for Parkinson’s disease
| Week | Dosage | Total daily dose |
| 1 | 0.25 mg three times per day | 0.75 mg |
| 2 | 0.5 mg three times per day | 1.5 mg |
| 3 | 0.75 mg three times per day | 2.25 mg |
| 4 | 1 mg three times per day | 3 mg |
Your doctor may continue to increase the dosage every week to a maximum dosage of 8 mg three times per day (total daily dose of 24 mg).
Dosage for restless legs syndrome
| Day/Week | Recommended dose (once per day, 1–3 hours before bedtime) |
| Days 1 and 2 | 0.25 mg |
| Days 3–7 | 0.5 mg |
| Week 2 | 1 mg |
| Week 3 | 1.5 mg |
| Week 4 | 2 mg |
| Week 5 | 2.5 mg |
| Week 6 | 3 mg |
| Week 7 | 4 mg |
The maximum dosage is 4 mg once per day before bedtime.
Dosage adjustments for ropinirole
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of ropinirole oral tablet based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of ropinirole
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of ropinirole oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
For tips on how to plan your doses of ropinirole oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about ropinirole oral tablet and its dosage.
How long does a dose of ropinirole stay in your system?
Ropinirole will stay in your system for about 1–2 days after your last dose. On average, your body will clear the drug in about 30 hours. Ropinirole may stay in your system longer if you’re age 65 years or older, have severe kidney problems, or have liver disease. If you smoke cigarettes, your body may clear the drug faster than average.
If you’d like to learn more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is there a twice per day dosage of ropinirole?
Not usually. The recommended dosage of ropinirole oral tablet is three times per day for Parkinson’s disease and once per day at bedtime for restless legs syndrome.
But if you need to stop taking the drug, your doctor will reduce the dosage slowly. For Parkinson’s disease dosing, this usually means reducing the dosage to twice per day for a few days.
Talk with your doctor if you’re having trouble taking ropinirole three times per day or if you’re having side effects. They may be able to adjust your treatment plan.
Can I take ropinirole only as needed?
No, you should not take ropinirole oral tablet on an “as needed” basis. The dosage of ropinirole needs to be slowly increased over time to reach the amount that’s effective for you. And this medication should be taken on a regular schedule to work effectively.
If you need to stop the drug, your doctor will slowly reduce the dosage to prevent withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms can be serious and even life threatening in some cases.) If you start the drug again, your doctor will need to increase it again slowly.
Talk with your doctor if you’re having side effects or other problems taking ropinirole as prescribed. They may be able to suggest other treatment options.
Is ropinirole taken long term?
Yes, doctors typically prescribe ropinirole oral tablet as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.
If you have questions about how long you should take ropinirole oral tablet, talk with your doctor.
How ropinirole is taken
For restless legs syndrome, you’ll swallow ropinirole oral tablet once per day, 1–3 hours before bedtime. You’ll take it three times per day for Parkinson’s disease. You can take it with or without food.
If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardRopinirole coupon
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ropinirole when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Overdose of ropinirole
It’s important that you do not take more ropinirole oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of ropinirole overdose
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- confusion
- dizziness
- extreme sleepiness
- heart palpitations (feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats)
- jerky movements that you can’t control
- nausea or vomiting
- nightmares
- sweating
- visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t really there)
What to do if you take too much ropinirole
If you think you’ve taken too much ropinirole, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for ropinirole oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of ropinirole oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take ropinirole oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How long will I need to take ropinirole oral tablet?
- Would my dosage be easier with the extended-release tablet?
- Will you need to change my dosage of ropinirole oral tablet if I’m taking other medications?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.