Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information). 

Dosing Instructions: Instruct patients to take ropinirole tablets only as prescribed. If a dose is missed, advise patients not to double their next dose. Ropinirole tablets can be taken with or without food [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)]. 

Ropinirole is the active ingredient in both ropinirole extended-release tablets and ropinirole tablets (the immediate-release formulation). Ask your patients if they are taking another medication containing ropinirole. 

Hypersensitivity/Allergic Reactions: Advise patients about the potential for developing a hypersensitivity/allergic reaction including manifestations such as urticaria, angioedema, rash, and pruritus when taking any ropinirole product. Inform patients who experience these or similar reactions to immediately contact their healthcare professional [see Contraindications (4)]. 

Falling Asleep during Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence: Alert patients to the potential sedating effects caused by ropinirole tablets, including somnolence and the possibility of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living. Because somnolence is a frequent adverse reaction with potentially serious consequences, patients should not drive a car, operate machinery, or engage in other potentially dangerous activities until they have gained sufficient experience with ropinirole tablets to gauge whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely. Advise patients that if increased somnolence or episodes of falling asleep during activities of daily living (e.g., conversations, eating, driving a motor vehicle, etc.) are experienced at any time during treatment, they should not drive or participate in potentially dangerous activities until they have contacted their physician. 

Advise patients of possible additive effects when patients are taking other sedating medications, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, etc.) in combination with ropinirole tablets or when taking a concomitant medication (e.g., ciprofloxacin) that increases plasma levels of ropinirole [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Syncope and Hypotension/Orthostatic Hypotension: Advise patients that they may experience syncope and may develop hypotension with or without symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, syncope, and sometimes sweating while taking ropinirole tablets, especially if they are elderly. Hypotension and/or orthostatic symptoms may occur more frequently during initial therapy or with an increase in dose at any time (cases have been seen after weeks of treatment). Postural/orthostatic symptoms may be related to sitting up or standing. Accordingly, caution patients against standing rapidly after sitting or lying down, especially if they have been doing so for prolonged periods and especially at the initiation of treatment with ropinirole tablets [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.3)]. 

Hallucinations/Psychotic-like Behavior: Inform patients that they may experience hallucinations (unreal visions, sounds, or sensations), and that other psychotic-like behavior can occur while taking ropinirole tablets. The elderly are at greater risk than younger patients with Parkinson’s disease. This risk is greater in patients who are taking ropinirole tablets with L-dopa or taking higher doses of ropinirole tablets and may also be further increased in patients taking any other drugs that increase dopaminergic tone. Tell patients to report hallucinations or psychotic-like behavior to their healthcare provider promptly should they develop [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]. 

Dyskinesia: Inform patients that ropinirole tablets may cause and/or exacerbate pre-existing dyskinesias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]. 

Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors: Advise patients that they may experience impulse control and/or compulsive behaviors while taking one or more of the medications (including ropinirole tablets) that increase central dopaminergic tone, that are generally used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Advise patients to inform their physician or healthcare provider if they develop new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, uncontrolled spending, binge or compulsive eating, or other urges while being treated with ropinirole tablets. Physicians should consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking ropinirole tablets [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]. 

Withdrawal-emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion: Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they wish to discontinue ropinirole tablets or decrease the dose of ropinirole tablets [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]. 

Melanoma: Advise patients with Parkinson’s disease that they have a higher risk of developing melanoma. Advise patients to have their skin examined on a regular basis by a qualified healthcare provider (e.g., dermatologist) when using ropinirole tablets for any indication [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].

Augmentation and Rebound: Inform patients with RLS that augmentation and/or rebound may occur after starting treatment with ropinirole tablets [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)]. 

Nursing Mothers: Because of the possibility that ropinirole may be excreted in breast milk, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)]. Advise patients that ropinirole tablets could inhibit lactation because ropinirole inhibits prolactin secretion. 

Pregnancy: Because ropinirole has been shown to have adverse effects on embryo-fetal development, including teratogenic effects, in animals, and because experience in humans is limited, advise patients to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].