Side Effects of Requip for Restless Leg Syndrome

Physicians prescribe Requip, known generically as ropinirole, for sufferers of restless leg syndrome. In a 12-week, double blind study, mild to moderate side effects were reported.

Nausea

• On the average, 40 percent of the participants in the trial reported nausea versus eight percent reported by those taking the placebo. Subjects reported mild to medium incidences of nausea.

Somnolence

• Somnolence is the strong desire for sleep, overwhelming drowsiness and hypersomnia (sleeping for long periods of time). In subjects taking Requip, 12 percent reported somnolence versus six percent on the placebo.

Vomiting

• Incidences of vomiting were reported by 11 percent over twopercent of those taking the placebo. Vomiting was one of the side effects that influenced five percent of the subjects to withdraw from the study.

Fatigue

• Fatigue is different from somnolence. When you are fatigued, you feel run down, lethargic and low on energy, but not necessarily sleepy. Placebo subjects reported four percent versus eight percent of Requip subjects who reported fatigue.

Dizziness

• Out of the almost 1,000 subjects in the trial, 11 precent reported dizziness while on Requip, and 5 percent of those subjects on placebo cited this side effect.