Prescription medication · Dopamine Agonist
ropinirole
Also sold as Requip. Ropinirole is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 14,664
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $0.04
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
ropinirole (Requip) is a prescription Dopamine Agonist, reported less often than most tracked drugs (14,664 FDA reports), with 3 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
ropinirole (Requip) is a prescription Dopamine Agonist. Ropinirole is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
Ropinirole is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your brain. It is used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Available
Yes (11 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: ROPINIROLE HCL 0.25 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +2.1% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2024 | $0.0400/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0408/EA | +2.1% | 10 |
What it does
Ropinirole is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
Common side effects
Nausea, Sleepiness, Dizziness
Key warnings
Ropinirole can cause you to fall asleep suddenly, even during normal daily activities.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from ropinirole's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Ropinirole works by mimicking the effects of dopamine, a natural chemical in the brain. Dopamine helps control movement and coordination. By acting like dopamine, ropinirole can help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and RLS.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 14,664 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for ropinirole, by number of reports
- Fall
Fall
1,004 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
920 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
852 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
721 reports
- Hallucination
Hallucination
711 reports
- Pain
Pain
630 reports
- Death
Death
623 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
602 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
591 reports
- Asthenia
Asthenia
567 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for ropinirole each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where ropinirole sits
ropinirole has more FDA adverse-event reports than 48% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is ropinirole; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 14,664 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
14,664
Reports Mentioning Death
1,369
9.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
4,485
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FALL | 1,004 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 920 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 852 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 721 |
| 6 | HALLUCINATION | 711 |
| 7 | PAIN | 630 |
| 8 | DEATH | 623 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 602 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 591 |
| 11 | ASTHENIA | 567 |
| 13 | INSOMNIA | 537 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 528 |
| 15 | GAIT DISTURBANCE | 512 |
| 16 | SOMNOLENCE | 504 |
| 17 | DYSKINESIA | 494 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Ropinirole can cause you to fall asleep suddenly, even during normal daily activities. Some people have fainted while taking ropinirole. Ropinirole can lower your blood pressure, especially when you stand up. It may also cause hallucinations or unusual behaviors. Some people taking ropinirole have reported problems with impulse control, such as gambling or overeating.
Known Drug Interactions
Coadministration of ciprofloxacin, an inhibitor of CYP1A2, increases the AUC and C max of ropinirole [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Mechanism: Ciprofloxacin blocks the liver enzyme that normally clears ropinirole from your body, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS · Inhibitors or inducers of CYP1A2: May alter the clearance of ropinirole tablets; dose adjustment of ropinirole tablets may be required (7.1, 12.3) · Hormone replacement therapy(HRT): Starting or stopping HRT may require dose adjustment of ropinirole tablets (7.2, 12.3) · Dopamine antagonists (e.g., neuroleptics, metoclopramide): May reduce efficacy of ropinirole tablets (7.3) 7.1 Cytochrome P450 1A2 Inhibitors and Inducers In vitro metabolism studies showed that CYP1A2 is the major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of ropinirole. 7.3 Dopamine Antagonists Because...
Mechanism: These drugs have opposite effects on dopamine in the brain, which can stop ropinirole from working properly.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS · Inhibitors or inducers of CYP1A2: May alter the clearance of ropinirole tablets; dose adjustment of ropinirole tablets may be required (7.1, 12.3) · Hormone replacement therapy(HRT): Starting or stopping HRT may require dose adjustment of ropinirole tablets (7.2, 12.3) · Dopamine antagonists (e.g., neuroleptics, metoclopramide): May reduce efficacy of ropinirole tablets (7.3) 7.1 Cytochrome P450 1A2 Inhibitors and Inducers In vitro metabolism studies showed that CYP1A2 is the major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of ropinirole. 7.3 Dopamine Antagonists Because...
Mechanism: Metoclopramide blocks the brain receptors that ropinirole needs to activate, making the treatment less effective.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I drive while taking ropinirole?
What should I do if I feel dizzy?
Can I drink alcohol while taking ropinirole?
How long does it take for ropinirole to work?
Can I stop taking ropinirole suddenly?
Does ropinirole interact with other medications?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can ropinirole cause weight gain?
Is ropinirole addictive?
What should I do if I experience hallucinations?
What are the common side effects of ropinirole?
Does ropinirole interact with other medications?
What drug class is ropinirole?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for ropinirole?
Related Medications in Dopamine Agonist
Other drugs grouped near ropinirole - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with ropinirole →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with ropinirole →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with ropinirole →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with ropinirole →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with ropinirole →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for ropinirole: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 14,664.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 9.34%.
- ibandronate Δ 0.00 pts · 2,935 reports · Bisphosphonate 9.34%death share
- famotidine Δ 0.01 pts · 110,018 reports · H2 Receptor Antagonist 9.35%death share
- baricitinib Δ 0.02 pts · 9,259 reports · JAK Inhibitor 9.35%death share
- gabapentin Δ 0.05 pts · 351,750 reports · Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent 9.38%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on ropinirole
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for ropinirole
The FDA label for ropinirole (sold under brand names such as Requip) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Dopamine Agonist class. Ropinirole is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Official labeling lists 14 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Sleepiness, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 14,664 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: October 7, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages