What is pramipexole?
Pramipexole has some of the same effects as a chemical called dopamine, which occurs naturally in your body. Low levels of dopamine in the brain are associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Pramipexole is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Pramipexole is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Pramipexole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
-
Precautions
-
Instructions
-
Side Effects
-
Interactions
Precautions
Some people taking pramipexole have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. If you are unsure of how this medicine will affect you, be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to pramipexole.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before you take pramipexole, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- narcolepsy (a sleep disorder);
- kidney disease; or
- tremors (dyskinesia) or uncontrolled muscle movements.
You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking pramipexole. It is not known whether the medicine actually causes this effect. Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while taking pramipexole.
Some people using medicines for Parkinson’s disease have developed skin cancer (melanoma). However, people with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk than most people for developing melanoma. Talk to your doctor about your specific risk and what skin symptoms to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you take pramipexole, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Pramipexole may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Pramipexole may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you have hallucinations.
Pramipexole can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of pramipexole.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
▲
Back to top
Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of a pramipexole overdose are not known.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
▲
Back to top
Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking pramipexole and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- extreme drowsiness, falling asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert;
- hallucinations;
- fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
- nausea, sweating, feeling light-headed, fainting; or
- restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.
Less serious side effects may include:
- constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite;
- dry mouth, trouble swallowing;
- urinating more often than usual;
- mild drowsiness or sleepiness;
- sleep problems (insomnia), unusual dreams;
- amnesia, forgetfulness, thinking problems;
- headache, confusion, weakness;
- blurred vision;
- joint pain, muscle weakness;
- swelling in your hands or feet;
- runny or stuffy nose;
- weight loss; or
- impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
▲
Back to top
Interactions
Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by pramipexole. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other medicines for Parkinson’s disease.
Before taking pramipexole, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- amantadine (Symmetrel);
- cimetidine (Tagamet);
- diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Dilacor, Tiazac);
- ranitidine (Zantac);
- quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
- quinine(Qualaquin);
- triamterene (Dyrenium); or
- verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with pramipexole. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Mirapex and pramipexole
▲
Back to top
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
Updating results…
0 helpful marks
First
Prev
