• See Also
  1. Dopamine Agonist
  2. Parkinsonism
  3. Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Indications
  1. Parkinsonism
  2. Restless Leg Syndrome
    1. Moderate to severe symptoms refractory to Pramipexole or Ropinirole
  • Mechanism
  1. Non-ergot Dopamine Agonist available as a transdermal patch
  • Technique
  • Patch Application
  1. Apply once daily (available in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 mg)
  2. Patch applied daily to a new dry, clean and intact skin site
  3. Hold patch in place for 20-30 seconds before removing hand
  4. Appropriate sites include Abdomen, thigh, flank, Shoulder, upper arm
  5. Wash skin after removal
  6. Do not repeat the same site for 14 days
  7. Remove patch prior to MRI, cardioversion
  1. Start at 2 mg/24 hours
    1. May start a 4 mg/24h patch in advanced Parkinsonism
  2. May increase weekly by 2 mg/24h patch to a maximum of 6 mg/24h (8 mg/24h in advanced Parkinsonism)
  3. Taper patch by 2 mg/24h every 2 days when stopping
  1. Start at 1 mg/24 hours
  2. May increase weekly by 1 mg/24h patch to a maximum of 3 mg/24 hours
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Pregnancy Category: C
  2. Lactation: Unknown Safety
  • Resources
  1. Rotigotine (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=939e28c5-f3a9-42c0-9a2d-8d471d82a6e0
  • References
  1. (2021) Med Lett Drugs Ther 63(1618): 25-32
  2. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 46-7
  3. Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia