Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking ropinirole as follows:
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
- Ropinirole carries the risk of causing and aggravating some underlying cardiac arrhythmias, leading to severe debility and death. Discuss with your physician regarding your heart health, if you are newly started on ropinirole. If you are newly diagnosed with any cardiac conditions, discuss with your physician regarding your safety with regards to continuing on ropinirole, if you have been using the medication for long. Also, low blood levels of potassium and magnesium ions and medications influencing the levels of these ions in the blood, such as, diuretics, can also result in cardiac arrhythmias, which can be seriously aggravated with simultaneous use of ropinirole, leading to debility and sudden cardiac death. Discuss with your physician and other health care personnel regarding your all other medications and their safety with ropinirole. While taking ropinirole, report to your physician regarding any worsening signs and symptoms of arrhythmias, such as, frequent episodes of fatigue, lightheadedness, near fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, and/or pounding heartbeat, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised or alternative plan considered.
