Ropinirole

Ropinirole (Requip) stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain, helping to compensate for dopamine deficiency in Parkinson's disease and relieve the uncomfortable urge to move associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS). It is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (alone or with levodopa) and for moderate to severe primary RLS. As with other dopamine agonists, ropinirole can cause sudden sleep onset, impulse control disorders, hallucinations, and orthostatic hypotension, so careful patient counseling and monitoring are important, especially when driving or during dose titration.