Linear pharmacokinetic behavior of ropinirole during multiple dosing in patients with Parkinson's disease

The objectives of this study were to measure the pharmacokinetics of ropini role at steady state when the drug is used as an adjunct to L-dopa and eval uate the long-term tolerability of ropinirole in this indication. twenty-fo ur patients who were taking L-dopa for Parkinson's disease and experiencing a lack of symptomatic control were recruited. Patients received open-label adjunctive treatment with ropinirole for up to 2 years. The starting dose was 0.5 mg bid, which could be titrated to a maximum of 6.0 mg tid. Ropinir ole demonstrated approximately dose-linear pharmacokinetics at steady state ; corresponding values were higher during tid than bid dosing. A reduction in mean L-dopa dose was maintained throughout the trial. The combination of L-dopa and ropinirole was generally well tolerated, with only 1 patient wi thdrawing from treatment because of adverse events. Thus, ropinirole shows approximately linear steady-state pharmacokinetics and a good safety profil e when administered with L-dopa.