Falling asleep at the wheel: Motor vehicle mishaps in persons taking pramipexole and ropinirole

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.