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Compare Requip vs. Azilect

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Ropinirole (generic name) and Rasagiline (brand name Azilect) are both used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), but they work differently and have different uses. Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist that mimics dopamine in the brain and is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS). It comes in immediate-release and extended-release tablets. Rasagiline, on the other hand, is an MAO-B inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of dopamine, helping to control PD symptoms. You take it once a day. Ropinirole can cause side effects like nausea, sleepiness, and dizziness, while Rasagiline can cause headaches, joint pain, and a risk of serotonin syndrome if taken with certain medications. Additionally, Rasagiline requires you to avoid foods high in tyramine, like aged cheeses and cured meats, to prevent high blood pressure. Both medications are available in lower-cost generic forms.

  • Ropinirole
    Rasagiline (Azilect)
  • Ropinirole
    Rasagiline (Azilect)

  • Summary of Requip vs. Azilect

    Summary for Dopamine agonist
    Prescription only

    Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist that's used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in adults. For Parkinson's disease, the immediate-release tablets are taken by mouth three times per day, and the extended-release tablets are taken once per day. Ropinirole side effects include nausea, sleepiness, and dizziness.

    Summary for MAO-B inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Rasagiline (Azilect) is one of the first-choice options to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), such as shakiness, stiff muscles, and slowed movement. Rasagiline (Azilect) is taken once a day and is available in a lower-cost generic form, but it can make you very sleepy.

  • Indications of Requip vs. Azilect

    Indications for
    •Parkinson's disease (PD)
    •Moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome (RLS) - immediate-release tablets only
    Indications for
    •Parkinson's disease (PD)

  • Pros and Cons of Requip vs. Azilect

    Pros and Const for Dopamine agonist
    Pros
    •Works well to control movement problems
    •Can take with or without food
    •Available as a lower-cost generic
    Cons
    •Only available as a tablet that's swallowed whole
    •Can have a lot of side effects, like impulsive behavior and hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real)
    •Can't suddenly stop taking ropinirole because of risk of withdrawal symptoms
    Pros and Const for MAO-B inhibitor
    Pros
    •One of the first-choice options for PD, especially for movement problems
    •Can be used to treat early PD
    •Taken once a day
    •Available in a lower-cost, generic version
    Cons
    •Can cause a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome if taken with certain medications
    •Cannot eat foods with very large amounts of tyramine while taking rasagiline (Azilect), because it can raise your blood pressure
    •Not recommended if you have moderate-to-severe liver disease, because the medication can reach very high levels in your body and put you at higher risk for side effects

  • Common Side Effects of Requip vs. Azilect

    Common Side Effects for

    Parkinson's disease:

    •Nausea (60%)
    •Dizziness (40%)
    •Sleepiness (40%)
    •Weakness (16%)
    •Feeling faint (12%)
    •Vomiting (12%)
    •Viral infection (11%)
    •Indigestion (10%)

    Restless legs syndrome:

    •Nausea (40%)
    •Sleepiness (12%)
    •Vomiting (11%)
    •Dizziness (11%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Headache (14%)
    •Joint pain (7%)
    •Stomach upset (7%)
    •Depression (5%)
    •Flu symptoms (5%)
    •Falls (5%)

    Note: Percentages are based on taking the medication alone

  • Warnings of Requip vs. Azilect

    Common Side Effects for
    •Extreme sleepiness
    •Changes in blood pressure and higher risk of falls
    •Intense urges
    •Hallucinations and behavior changes
    •Difficulty controlling body movements
    •Worsening symptoms of RLS (immediate-release tablets only)
    Common Side Effects for
    •High blood pressure
    •Serotonin syndrome
    •Sleepiness or falling asleep during activities
    •Low blood pressure
    •Hallucinations and changes in behavior and thoughts
    •Difficulty controlling impulsive behavior
    •High fevers and confusion

  • Prices with our coupons for Requip vs. Azilect

    Learn more about Ropinirole
    Learn more about Rasagiline

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