Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NEUPRO versus REQUIP XL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NEUPRO versus REQUIP XL.
NEUPRO vs REQUIP XL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Rotigotine is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist with high affinity for dopamine D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 receptors; also binds to serotonin 5-HT1A and alpha2-adrenergic receptors.
Ropinirole is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist with high relative in vitro specificity and full intrinsic activity at the D2 subfamily of dopamine receptors, binding with higher affinity to D3 than to D2 or D4 receptor subtypes. The relevance of D3 receptor binding in Parkinson's disease is unknown.
Apply transdermally once daily; initial dose 2 mg/24h, titrated weekly by 2 mg/24h up to 6 mg/24h, maximum 8 mg/24h.
Initial: 2 mg orally once daily for weeks 1-2, then titrate as needed; maintenance: 8-24 mg orally once daily.
None Documented
None Documented
Single dose: 5-7 hours (transdermal); steady state: 7-10 hours; effective half-life for dosing is 8 hours due to reservoir in skin
Approximately 6 hours (range 4-8 hours) for ropinirole; terminal half-life in elderly or hepatic impairment may be prolonged up to 10-12 hours. Clinically, steady-state achieved within 2 days of dosing.
Renal: 45% (metabolites), Fecal: 40% (metabolites), Biliary: 15%
Renal: 60% (mainly metabolites, <10% unchanged); fecal/biliary: 20%; total excretion accounts for >80% of dose.
Category C
Category C
Dopamine Agonist
Dopamine Agonist