Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, lightheaded, or faint. People using rotigotine have reported falling asleep without warning during activities of daily living, including driving, which sometimes resulted in accidents. This may happen as late as one year after taking the medicine. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think well. If these side effects are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause changes in your blood pressure or heart rate. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position suddenly. Getting up slowly may help. If the problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors, including confusion, delusions, feeling aggressive or hostile, or seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations). If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.
Some people who have used this medicine had unusual changes in their thoughts or behavior, including an urge to gamble, spend money, binge eat, or an increased sex drive. Talk with your doctor if this is a concern for you.
This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet, tingling of the hands or feet, or unusual weight gain or loss.
Check with your doctor before using this medicine with alcohol or other medicines that affect the central nervous system (CNS). This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of medicines that affect the CNS are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, medicine for depression, medicine for anxiety, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics.
The patch contains aluminum, which can cause skin burns when used during certain procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cardioversion. To prevent skin burns, make sure the patch is removed before having these procedures.
Heat may cause too much of the rotigotine to pass through your skin. Do not expose the patch to direct sources of heat, such as heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated water beds, or direct sunlight. Direct sunlight may cause your skin to change color.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or irritation from the patch that lasts longer than a few days, becomes more severe, or spreads to areas outside the application site.
Do not change your dose or stop using this medicine suddenly without first asking your doctor. You will need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause anxiety, confusion, depression, fever, lack of feeling or emotion, severe muscle stiffness, sweating, trouble sleeping, uncaring, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024
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