S. Frucht et al., Falling asleep at the wheel: Motor vehicle mishaps in persons taking pramipexole and ropinirole, NEUROLOGY, 52(9), 1999, pp. 1908-1910
The authors report a new: side effect of the dopamine agonists pramipexole
and ropinirole: sudden irresistible attacks of sleep. Eight PD patients tak
ing pramipexole and one taking ropinirole fell asleep while. driving, causi
ng accidents; Five experienced no warning before falling asleep. The attack
s ceased when the drugs were stopped. Neurologists who prescribe these drug
s and patients who take them should be aware of this possible side effect.