[llatucker]

Hi, My name is laura and I am new to this site as well as new to parkinsons. I was dx'd about 3 or 4 weeks ago and started on requip.They increased my dosage Fri. and I have been having stomach problems every since then. I called and spoke with the nurse and didn't get much help.i was wondering if any one else had problems with their stomach on requip. I am having cramps,diarrhea and nausea.Thanks for your input !

[Nan Cyclist]

Sounds familiar. After several years on Requip that cell without incident, I would switch to a generically equipped XL and immediately began having 46 hours nausea each day. I was switch back to the non-generic Requip XL but it didn't help. I'm now using Neupro, the dermal patch, 4 mg and have had no problem since. Obviously the Requip is going through the stomach and the patche is going through the skin, which accounts for the difference between the body's response to two drugs.

[soccertese]

Originally Posted by llatucker

Hi, My name is laura and I am new to this site as well as new to parkinsons. I was dx'd about 3 or 4 weeks ago and started on requip.They increased my dosage Fri. and I have been having stomach problems every since then. I called and spoke with the nurse and didn't get much help.i was wondering if any one else had problems with their stomach on requip. I am having cramps,diarrhea and nausea.Thanks for your input !

sounds like you really need to get a hold of your doctor and at the minimum get your blood pressure checked. is your doctor a neurologist?. you can also post your question here, if you do include all the other drugs you are taking and dosages:
http://forum.parkinson.org/index.php...sk-the-doctor/

just a non-professional opinion but i would think you could drop back to the previous dosage.

just curious, how much are you taking/day?
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-4041...me=Requip+Oral

[llatucker]

I started out on .25- 1 tid for 1 week then .5 -1 tid for 1 week now 1 mg- tid It has helped with the tremors but man if i keep this up I will be dehydrated fast.Yes I am seeing a neurologist,and I spoke with the nurse and she said she isn't familiar with any one having those side effects from requip.I called the pharmacist and she said it was a side effect. I don;t know if I should stop taking it or try to hang in there to see if i get use to it . Guess I need to call back tomorrow and see if they will let me speak to the Doc. Feeling down

[soccertese]

Originally Posted by llatucker

I started out on .25- 1 tid for 1 week then .5 -1 tid for 1 week now 1 mg- tid It has helped with the tremors but man if i keep this up I will be dehydrated fast.Yes I am seeing a neurologist,and I spoke with the nurse and she said she isn't familiar with any one having those side effects from requip.I called the pharmacist and she said it was a side effect. I don;t know if I should stop taking it or try to hang in there to see if i get use to it . Guess I need to call back tomorrow and see if they will let me speak to the Doc. Feeling down

i suggested you post your problem on "ask the doctor", not sure if he will get back to you tomorrow.
in the book "THE PARKINSON'S DISEASE TREATMENT BOOK" by AHLSKOG, M.D., page 187, it states "Don't raise the dose if the side affects are substantial."

and it lists a lower recommended dosage schedule on week 3:
week 1 .25mg, tid, total .75mg
week 2 .50mg tid total 1.5mg
week 3 0.25mg + 0.5mg tid total 2.25mg
week 4 1.0mg tid total 3mg
week 5 .5mg+1.0mg tid total 4.5mg
goes up to week 10, 15mg total if needed.
again, i'm not a healthcare professional.

[milast]

Originally Posted by llatucker

I started out on .25- 1 tid for 1 week then .5 -1 tid for 1 week now 1 mg- tid It has helped with the tremors but man if i keep this up I will be dehydrated fast.Yes I am seeing a neurologist,and I spoke with the nurse and she said she isn't familiar with any one having those side effects from requip.I called the pharmacist and she said it was a side effect. I don;t know if I should stop taking it or try to hang in there to see if i get use to it . Guess I need to call back tomorrow and see if they will let me speak to the Doc. Feeling down

I agree with Soccertese, you SHOULD submit your question to Dr OKun at ASK THE DOCTOR **(sorry, I am not allowed to post link but I guess you can deduct it from that info).

Dr Okun will get back to you very quickly. He is a reknown expert and offers a tremendous help to the Parkinson's community. In the meantime, DO NOT interrupt treatment without doctor's advice.
Regards,
milast