Neupro (rotigotine) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome. The drug comes as a patch that’s applied to the skin. It’s usually applied once per day.

Neupro is used in adults to treat:

The active ingredient in Neupro is rotigotine. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Neupro belongs to a group of drugs called dopamine agonists.

This article describes the dosages of Neupro, as well as its strengths and how to use it. To learn more about Neupro, see this in-depth article.

This section describes the usual dosages of Neupro. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Neupro’s form?

Neupro is available as a transdermal patch you apply to your skin.

What strengths does Neupro come in?

Neupro comes in several strengths, and each patch is applied for 24 hours.

It comes as:

  • 1 milligram (mg) rotigotine per 24 hours
  • 2 mg/24 hours
  • 3 mg/24 hours
  • 4 mg/24 hours
  • 6 mg/24 hours
  • 8 mg/24 hours

What are the usual dosages of Neupro?

The dosage of Neupro your doctor prescribes depends on your condition and its severity. Your doctor will likely start by prescribing a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for Parkinson’s disease

Early stage Parkinson’s disease: The typical Neupro dosage for early stage Parkinson’s disease in adults is 2 mg/24 hours. Depending on how this starting dosage works for you, your doctor may then slowly increase your Neupro dosage by 2 mg/24 hours every week until you reach the right dosage to manage your condition.

The lowest dosage to treat early stage Parkinson’s disease is 2 mg/24 hours, and the maximum dosage is 6 mg/24 hours.

Advanced stage Parkinson’s disease: For advanced stage Parkinson’s disease in adults, your doctor will likely start by prescribing Neupro 4 mg/24 hours. Based on how the medication works for you, your doctor will slowly increase your dosage by 2 mg/24 hours every week until you reach the right dosage to treat your condition. The maximum dosage of Neupro is 8 mg/24 hours for advanced stage Parkinson’s disease.

If you have questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Dosage for restless legs syndrome

For restless legs syndrome in adults, the typical starting dosage of Neupro is 1 mg/24 hours. After this, your doctor may increase your dosage slowly by 1 mg/24 hours each week until you reach the right dosage to manage your condition. The lowest dose of Neupro for restless legs syndrome is 1 mg/24 hours and the maximum dose is 3 mg/24 hours.

If you want to learn more about Neupro’s dosage for restless legs syndrome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Neupro used long term?

Yes, Neupro is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.

The dosage of Neupro you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using the drug to treat
  • other medications you may be taking

Neupro is available as a transdermal patch that you apply to your skin. Each patch is applied for 24 hours, then removed. After that, a new patch is applied. Try to apply the patch around the same time each day to keep consistent levels of Neupro in your body, which will help the drug work.

Be sure to apply Neupro to a clean, dry area of your skin. Do not apply Neupro to broken or irritated skin, or anywhere that tight clothing will rub against the patch. If the skin area is hairy, shave the area at least 3 days before you apply Neupro.

Neupro patches may be applied to the skin on your thigh, belly, shoulder, hip, upper arm, or flank (the side of your body that’s between your ribs and pelvis).

It’s important to change the area of your skin where you apply Neupro daily. Do not apply Neupro to the same skin area more than once every 14 days.

To apply the Neupro patch, press it firmly in place for 30 seconds, particularly around the edges to make sure it sticks properly to your skin.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Neupro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

If you miss a dose of Neupro, apply it as soon as you remember. Replace a new patch at your usual time the next day. If it has been more than 12 hours, skip the dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.

If you need help remembering to apply your Neupro patch on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not use more Neupro than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you use too much Neupro

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve used too much Neupro. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you suddenly stop using Neupro, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These are side effects that can occur when you stop a medication that your body has become dependent on. Dependence is when your body needs a drug to function as usual.

Examples of withdrawal symptoms include:

If you need to stop Neupro treatment, your doctor will discuss these side effects. They’ll also monitor you closely during treatment and after you stop Neupro.

To stop Neupro treatment for Parkinson’s disease, your doctor will slowly lower your daily dosage by a maximum of 2 mg/24 hours, typically every other day until you can stop the medication completely.

To stop Neupro treatment for restless legs syndrome, your doctor will slowly lower your dosage by 1 mg/24 hours every other day until you’ve stopped the medication.

If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may restart Neupro at the lowest effective dose.

If you have questions about these side effects of Neupro, talk with your doctor to learn more.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Neupro’s dosage.

Is Neupro’s dosage similar to the dosages of Mirapex or Requip?

No. All three medications have the same approved uses for Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome, and they all belong to a group of drugs called dopamine agonists. That said, the forms, strengths, and dosages of Neupro, Mirapex, and Requip all differ.

Neupro comes as a transdermal patch in several strengths, and each patch is applied every 24 hours.

Mirapex comes as both immediate-release (IR)* oral tablets and extended-release (ER)* oral tablets. Both the IR oral tablets and ER oral tablets are used to treat Parkinson’s disease. The IR oral tablets are also used to treat restless legs syndrome. Mirapex is available in various strengths.

For Parkinson’s disease, the ER oral tablets of Mirapex are usually taken once per day. The IR oral tablets are usually taken 3 times per day. To treat restless legs syndrome, the IR oral tablets are taken once per day, usually in the evening.

Requip is no longer available in the United States. It only comes in the generic version ropinirole as both IR oral tablets and ER oral tablets. (Generic drugs are exact copies of brand-name medications and are usually less expensive than brand-name versions.)

Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

* “Immediate release” means the drug is released into your body right away. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.

How long does it take for Neupro to start working?

How long it takes Neupro to start working depends on your individual response to the medication and the severity of your condition. It takes some time for Neupro to be absorbed by your body after you apply a patch.

Your doctor will typically start you on a low dose of Neupro and slowly increase your dose weekly based on how you respond to treatment. They’ll also monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Neupro treatment, talk with your doctor.

The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by the manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Neupro for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Neupro without your doctor’s recommendation. Only use the Neupro dosage patch exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Can I double my dose by applying two Neupro patches if my symptoms aren’t improving?
  • Will I need a different dosage if I’m taking other medications for my condition?
  • How does the dosage of Neupro compare with the dosage of Sinemet?

To learn more about Neupro, see this article:

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.