Generic name: rotigotine (transdermal) [roe-TIG-oh-teen]
Brand name: Neupro
Drug class: Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents
Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jan 26, 2024.
What is Neupro?
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 skin patches are used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control.
Neupro is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Warnings
Some people using Neupro have fallen 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 rotigotine 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, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medication. Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while using Neupro.
Do not stop using Neupro suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Neupro. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by rotigotine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of rotigotine. The Neupro patch may burn your skin if you wear the patch during an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Remove the patch before undergoing such a test. Neupro may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you have hallucinations.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Related/similar drugs
ropinirole, benztropine, pramipexole, amantadine, levodopa, Requip, Mirapex
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Neupro if you are allergic to rotigotine.
To make sure Neupro is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
asthma or a sulfite allergy;
high or low blood pressure;
heart problems;
kidney disease;
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis;
narcolepsy or other sleep disorder; or
if you feel light-headed or nauseated when you stand up.
People with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk of skin cancer (melanoma). Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while using rotigotine.
Neupro pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)
How should I use Neupro?
Use Neupro skin patches exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
Apply the patch to clean, dry, and hairless skin. Avoid placing the patch where it will be rubbed by a waistband or tight clothing. Press the patch firmly into place for about 30 seconds. You may leave the patch on while bathing, showering, or swimming.
Remove the skin patch after 24 hours and replace it with a new one. Choose a different place on your body to wear the patch each time you put on a new one. Do not use the same skin area twice within 14 days.
If a patch falls off, put a new patch on a different place on your body and wear it the rest of the day. Then replace the patch the next day at your regular time.
Wash your hands with soap and water after applying or removing the patch.
Keep used and unused Neupro skin patches out of the reach of children or pets.
If you are using Neupro for RLS, call your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if they start earlier in the day than usual.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Neupro.
The Neupro 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 suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Keep the skin patch in its sealed pouch until you are ready to use it. Store the pouches at room temperature away from heat and moisture.
After removing a patch, fold it in half so it sticks together and throw it away in a place where children or pets cannot get to it.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:
Initial doses:
Early-stage Parkinson's disease: Apply 2 mg topically once a day
Advanced-stage Parkinson's disease: Apply 4 mg topically once a day
Maintenance dose: Increase weekly in 2 mg/24 hours increments if additional therapeutic effect is needed
Lowest effective dose: 4 mg/24 hours
Maximum dose for Early-stage Parkinson's disease: 6 mg/24 hours
Maximum dose for Advanced-stage Parkinson's disease: 8 mg/24 hours
Comments:
-Upon discontinuation, reduce the daily dose by a maximum of 2 mg every 24 hours, if possible; reduce the dose every other day until withdrawal is complete.
Use: Treatment of Parkinson's disease
Usual Adult Dose for Restless Legs Syndrome:
Initial dose: Apply 1 mg topically once a day
Maintenance dose: Increase weekly in 1 mg/24 hours increments if additional therapeutic effect is needed
Lowest effective dose: 1 mg/24 hours
Maximum dose: 3 mg/24 hours
Comments:
-Upon discontinuation, reduce the daily dose by a maximum of 1 mg every 24 hours, if possible; reduce the dose every other day until withdrawal is complete
Use: Treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome
Detailed Neupro dosage information
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you forget to change a patch on your scheduled day, remove and replace the patch as soon as you remember. Wear the new patch until your next regular patch-changing time. Do not change your schedule, even if you wear the new patch for less than 24 hours.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using Neupro?
Drinking alcohol with this medicine can increase side effects.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.
Avoid applying a patch to skin that is irritated, or to skin where you have applied lotion, oil, cream, ointment, or powder.
Do not expose the skin patch to heat while you are wearing it. This includes a hot tub, heating pad, sauna, or heated water bed. Heat can increase the amount of drug absorbed through your skin and may cause harmful effects.
Neupro side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Neupro: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
severe skin irritation that does not clear up within several hours after removing a skin patch;
extreme drowsiness, falling asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert;
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
agitation, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia (most commonly in elderly people);
fast heart rate;
increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges;
unusual thoughts or behavior; or
uncontrolled muscle movements.
Some people using Neupro have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.
Common Neupro side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
vision problems;
swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain;
increased sweating;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
redness, itching, or swelling where a patch was worn.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Neupro side effects (more detail)
What other drugs will affect Neupro?
Using Neupro with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with rotigotine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Neupro drug interactions (more detail)
Popular FAQ
Is Neupro a controlled substance?
Neupro is not a controlled substance. Neupro contains rotigotine and is a once-daily transdermal (skin) patch approved to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome. It is classified as a dopamine agonist and is thought to work by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain.
Can you shower with a Neupro patch?
Yes, you can shower, bathe or swim with a Neupro patch. Getting your patch wet may loosen it, so be sure not to dislodge it. If the patch comes off your skin, apply a new one right away to a different site. The next day, apply new patch at your regular time.
Where do you apply the Neupro patch?
Apply the patch to an area of clean, dry, and healthy skin on the front of the stomach (abdomen), thigh, hip, side of the body between the ribs and the pelvis (flank), shoulder, or upper arm. Do not apply to the same area more than once every 14 days to help prevent skin irritation.
How do you get Neupro patch to stick?
If your Neupro patch becomes loose or the edges of the patch lift up, you can secure it by taping it down with bandaging tape.
Can Neupro patches be cut in half?
No, Neupro patches should not be cut in half or cut into smaller pieces. Apply the patch right away after you remove it from the pouch. Be careful not to damage the patch.
How long does it take for Neupro to work?
It may take a few weeks of Neupro treatment to find the right dose that controls your symptoms. Your doctor will slowly increase your dose when you first start treatment to monitor your response and any side effects.
Why was Neupro taken off the market?
Neupro was withdrawn from the U.S. market in April 2008 due to a manufacturing error that resulted in problems with dosing. Those problems were addressed by the manufacturer, and Neupro was re-approved by the FDA in April 2012 for Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome (RLS).
More about Neupro (rotigotine)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Reviews (71)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Professional resources
- Neupro Patch prescribing information
- Rotigotine (AHFS Monograph)
Related treatment guides
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
Further information
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Neupro only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circ*mstances.
Medical Disclaimer
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