Consumer Information

Neupro

Generic Name: rotigotine (transdermal) (roe TIG oh teen)
Brand Names: Neupro

What is Neupro?

Advertisement

Feedback for Neupro

User CommentsAvg User Rating
3 Comments
8.0Rate it!

Neupro skin patches were withdrawn from the U.S. market in April 2008.

Do not not stop using Neupro without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop using the patches completely. Stopping suddenly can cause fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, and fast or uneven heartbeats.

Neupro 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.

Neupro works in certain areas of the brain to reduce early signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease (eg, tremor, uncontrolled muscle movements).

Neupro may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Neupro

Neupro skin patches were withdrawn from the U.S. market in April 2008.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Before using Neupro, tell your doctor if you have asthma or allergies, heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, seizures, or uncontrolled tremors.

Neupro may cause you to fall 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.

Call your doctor at once if you have serious side effects such as extreme drowsiness, falling asleep suddenly, breathing problems, severe or sudden headache, hallucinations, chest pain, swelling, fainting, or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

You may have increased sexual urges, intense or unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking Neupro. Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while you are using Neupro.

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.

Before using Neupro

Do not use Neupro if you are allergic to rotigotine, povidone, or silicone.

Before using Neupro, tell your doctor if you have:

  • asthma or any allergies;

  • heart disease or congestive heart failure;

  • high blood pressure;

  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or

  • tremors (dyskinesia) or uncontrolled muscle movements.

FDA pregnancy category C. Neupro may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment

Neupro 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. Neupro may cause you to fall 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.

You may have increased sexual urges, intense or unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while using Neupro. 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 you are using Neupro.

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.



How should I use Neupro?

Use Neupro exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not apply more patches or wear them for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Neupro transdermal comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Never cut or tear a Neupro patch.

Apply a Neupro patch once daily to clean, dry, intact skin. The best place to wear the patch is on your stomach, hip, thigh, upper arm, shoulder, or the lower left or right side of your back.

If you plan to wear a patch on an area of skin that is hairy, shave the area at least 3 days before wearing a patch on it. Choose another hairless skin area to wear your patch during that time.

Do not place a Neupro patch on red, irritated, or broken skin.

Avoid placing the patch where it will be rubbed by tight clothing. Do not place the patch in the folds of your skin. The patch should remain flat on the skin at all times. Take care to avoid accidentally removing the patch while showering or during physical activity.

The Neupro patch is usually worn for 24 hours around the clock.

Use a different place on your body each day when putting on a new patch. Do not wear a patch on the same place twice within 14 days.

Always wash your hands after handling or applying a Neupro patch.

When it is time to change your patch, remove the worn patch slowly to prevent skin irritation. Wash the area with soap and water. Use baby oil to remove any excess adhesive from your skin. Do not use rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or other solvents that can irritate the skin.

The Neupro transdermal patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the patch before undergoing such a test. Do not stop using Neupro without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop using the patches completely. Stopping suddenly can cause fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, and fast or uneven heartbeats. Store Neupro patches at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each patch in its original pouch until you are ready to use it. The pouch should open easily. Do not use scissors to cut open the pouch.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Apply a skin patch as soon as you remember. If it is almost time to apply your next patch, skip the missed dose and apply a patch at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra patches to make up the missed dose.

If a skin patch falls off, try sticking it back on. You may use bandage tape around the edges to hold the patch in place.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of Neupro is not likely unless you wear more than one patch at a time, or if you forget to remove a patch before putting on a new one.

What should I avoid while using Neupro?

Avoid touching your eyes after handling a Neupro patch.

Do not use any cream, lotion, ointment, oil, or powder on the skin where you plan to apply a skin patch. The patch may not stick well to the skin.

Avoid applying heat to the skin where the patch is worn, because it may increase the amount of medicine your body absorbs. Heat sources include hot tubs, heating pads, heat lamps, saunas, heated water beds, and direct sunlight. Neupro 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 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.

Neupro 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. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  • extreme drowsiness, falling asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert;

  • nausea, sweating, feeling light-headed, fainting;

  • breathing problems;

  • severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure;

  • hallucinations;

  • swelling in your hands or feet; or

  • restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

Less serious Neupro side effects may include:

  • weight gain;

  • swelling, redness, or itching where the patch was applied.

  • urinating more than usual;

  • runny nose;

  • diarrhea, loss of appetite;

  • feeling dizzy, tired, or weak;

  • mild drowsiness or sleepiness;

  • headache;

  • sleep problems (insomnia);

  • blurred vision; or

  • swelling in your hands or feet.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Neupro?

Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Neupro.

There may be other drugs that can affect Neupro. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

  • Your pharmacist can provide more information about Neupro.

What does my medication look like?

Rotigotine transdermal skin patch is available as a with a prescription under the brand name Neupro. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

  • Neupro 2 mg - transdermal patch

  • Neupro 4 mg - transdermal patch

  • Neupro 6 mg - transdermal patch

  • Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
  • 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 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision Date: 07/25/2007 10:34:22 PM


More Neupro resources:

MedFacts Neupro

Neupro Drug Interactions

Compare Neupro with other medications for the treatment of:

Parkinson's Disease

User Reviews:

3 comment(s) about Neupro


MedNotes
Related Drugs
By Condition
Parkinson's Disease
Advertisement
Save bookmark to...