Mirapex

Generic Name: pramipexole (oral) (pram i PEX ole)
Brand Names: Mirapex

What is Mirapex?

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Mirapex has some of the same effects as a chemical called dopamine, which occurs naturally in your body. Low levels of dopamine in the brain are associated with Parkinson's disease.

Mirapex is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Mirapex is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Mirapex may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Mirapex

If you are taking this medication for RLS, tell your doctor if your symptoms get worse, if they occur in the morning or earlier than usual in the evening, or if you feel restless symptoms in your hands or arms.

Do not stop using Mirapex without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by Mirapex. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Mirapex.

Mirapex may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you have hallucinations.

Before taking Mirapex

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Mirapex.

Before using Mirapex, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

narcolepsy (a sleep disorder);
kidney disease; or
tremors (dyskinesia) or uncontrolled muscle movements.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Mirapex.

Some people taking Mirapex have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. If you are unsure of how this medicine will affect you, be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Mirapex may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Mirapex may cause hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you have hallucinations.

How should I take Mirapex?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

The dose and timing of Mirapex in treating Parkinson's disease is different from the dose and timing in treating RLS. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Mirapex can be taken with or without food. Take the medication with food if it upsets your stomach.

Do not stop using Mirapex without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Store Mirapex at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a Mirapex overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking Mirapex?

Mirapex can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Mirapex.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

What are the possible side effects of Mirapex?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking Mirapex and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

extreme drowsiness, falling asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert;
hallucinations;
fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
nausea, sweating, feeling light-headed, fainting; or
restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

Less serious Mirapex side effects may include:

constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite;
dry mouth, trouble swallowing;
urinating more often than usual;
mild drowsiness or sleepiness;
sleep problems (insomnia), unusual dreams;
amnesia, forgetfulness, thinking problems;
headache, confusion, weakness;
blurred vision;
joint pain, muscle weakness;
swelling in your hands or feet;
runny or stuffy nose;
weight loss; or
impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Mirapex?

Before taking Mirapex, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

amantadine (Symmetrel);
cimetidine (Tagamet);
diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Dilacor, Tiazac);
ranitidine (Zantac);
quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);
quinine(Qualaquin);
triamterine (Dyrenium); or
verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Mirapex. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Mirapex.

What do my pills look like?

Pramipexole is available with a prescription under the brand name Mirapex. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Mirapex 0.125 mg - white, round tablets
Mirapex 0.25 mg - white, oval, scored tablets
Mirapex 1.0 mg - white, round, scored tablets
Mirapex 1.5 mg - white, round, scored tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and only use this medication for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.