Pramipexole Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Pramipexole Tablet contains pramipexole dihydrochloride monohydrate and belongs to the dopamine agonist class of medicines. It is a prescription tablet that works like dopamine, a natural brain chemical, and is used for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome. It helps address symptoms such as muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, and tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.

What is Pramipexole Tablet

Pramipexole is a prescription tablet that works like dopamine, a natural brain chemical. It is used for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome.

Pramipexole Tablet uses

• Parkinson's disease.
• Restless legs syndrome.
• Muscle stiffness associated with Parkinson's disease.
• Slowness of movement in Parkinson's disease.
• Tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.

Benefits of Pramipexole Tablet

• Helps improve movement.
• Reduces stiffness.
• Helps control tremors.
• Improves mobility.
• May reduce uncomfortable leg sensations.

How Pramipexole Tablet works

Pramipexole acts like dopamine, a natural brain chemical that helps control body movement. In Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, dopamine signals in the brain don't work properly, and this medicine helps make up for that.

Pramipexole Tablet dosage

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water; do not crush, chew, or break extended-release tablets. This medicine can be taken with or without food; taking it with food may help if it upsets your stomach. Take it at about the same time each day to help it work best and to help you remember.

For Parkinson's disease, it is usually taken three times a day, with your doctor slowly increasing the dose over time. For Restless Legs Syndrome, it is usually taken once a day, 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.

Do not take a double dose if you miss one; skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. For restless legs syndrome, if you forget your dose and wake up late at night, skip the missed dose rather than taking it, since this may cause trouble walking in the morning.

Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, as your condition may worsen or you may get withdrawal-type symptoms. Older adults may be more likely to have confusion or hallucinations with this medicine. Continue taking it for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel well, since it controls but does not cure the condition.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet (immediate-release)
• Oral tablet, extended release

Side effects of Pramipexole Tablet

Common

• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light-headedness, especially when standing up
• Drowsiness or tiredness
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Confusion or memory problems
• Trouble sleeping or unusual dreams
• Swelling of hands, ankles, or feet
• Weight gain or loss
• Changes in sexual drive
• Muscle spasm or weakness
• Increased urination

Serious

• Loss of memory
• Fainting
• Signs of allergy such as rash, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, wheezing or difficulty breathing
• Excessive sleepiness or sudden onset of sleep during daily activities
• Compulsive behaviors such as gambling, hypersexuality, shopping, eating, or repetitive purposeless activities
• Worsening of Restless Legs Syndrome symptoms (augmentation)
• Severe suspiciousness or paranoia
• Shortness of breath or tightness in the chest
• Swelling of feet or legs due to fluid build-up (possible heart failure)
• Uncontrollable muscle movements, twitching, or jerking
• Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, which could signal serious muscle breakdown
• Posture changes you cannot control, like bending forward at the neck or waist, or leaning sideways
• Vision problems

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine for any other condition unless your doctor tells you to, and never share it with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms.
• Do not stop taking this medicine or change your dose suddenly without checking with your doctor, since your condition may worsen or you may get unwanted side effects.
• People with Parkinson's disease may have a higher chance of developing a type of skin cancer called melanoma. Watch your skin for changes and tell your doctor about any concerns.
• This medicine is not recommended for children or teenagers under 18, since its safety and how well it works in this age group have not been established.
• Be careful when standing up from sitting or lying down, since this medicine can cause dizziness or light-headedness, especially in the first few weeks of treatment.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Special care is needed, and the benefits must be weighed against possible risks to the unborn baby.
• This medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding. In animal studies, it passed into breast milk and could reduce milk production.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, since this medicine should be used carefully in people with kidney issues, and your dose may need to be adjusted.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can increase drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects.
• Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can cause drowsiness, hallucinations, and sudden episodes of falling asleep.

Storage

• Keep the tablets in the original pack until it is time to take them
• Keep in a cool, dry and dark place where the temperature is below 30°C, in the packet, to protect from light
• Do not store in direct sunlight or heat, such as in a car on hot days, and do not store in the bathroom or near a sink
• Keep medicines where children cannot reach them, such as a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground
• If no longer needed or out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal
• Do not use after the expiry date

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, or trouble breathing.
• Call your doctor straight away or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you notice loss of memory, fainting, extreme sleepiness or sudden sleep episodes, new compulsive behaviors, severe paranoia, chest tightness, or swelling of your feet or legs with shortness of breath.
• Seek immediate medical advice if you or your family notice new or worsening compulsive behaviors, such as gambling, overeating, or compulsive shopping.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, get urgent medical help right away, even if you feel fine, by contacting your doctor, calling your local poison control center, or going to the nearest hospital emergency department.
• Call your doctor right away if you develop unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, as this could be a sign of serious muscle breakdown.

Alternatives

• Ropinirole
• Rasagiline
• Bromocriptine