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2D Structure
Also known as: 91374-21-9, Ropinirol, Ropinirolum, Ropinirolum [inn-latin], Ropinirol [inn-spanish], 4-(2-(dipropylamino)ethyl)indolin-2-one
Molecular Formula
C16H24N2O
Molecular Weight
260.37  g/mol
InChI Key
UHSKFQJFRQCDBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
FDA UNII
030PYR8953

Ropinirole, also known as ReQuip, is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist used in Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome,. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Ropinirole was initially approved in 1997 by the FDA for the management of Parkinson's disease. In 2005, it was the first drug approved in the US for the management of primary moderate to severe restless legs syndrome. In 2008, the extended-release capsules of ropinirole were approved, allowing for less frequent dosing, therefore increased compliance, and offering a similar side effect profile and efficacy to previous formulations of ropinirole.
Ropinirole is a Nonergot Dopamine Agonist. The mechanism of action of ropinirole is as a Dopamine Agonist.
1 2D Structure

2D Structure

2 Identification
2.1 Computed Descriptors
2.1.1 IUPAC Name
4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one
2.1.2 InChI
InChI=1S/C16H24N2O/c1-3-9-18(10-4-2)11-8-13-6-5-7-15-14(13)12-16(19)17-15/h5-7H,3-4,8-12H2,1-2H3,(H,17,19)
2.1.3 InChI Key
UHSKFQJFRQCDBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
2.1.4 Canonical SMILES
CCCN(CCC)CCC1=C2CC(=O)NC2=CC=C1
2.2 Other Identifiers
2.2.1 UNII
030PYR8953
2.3 Synonyms
2.3.1 MeSH Synonyms

1. 4-(2-(di-n-propylamino)ethyl)-2(3h)-indolone

2. Requip

3. Ropinirol

4. Ropinirole Hydrochloride

5. Sk And F 101468

6. Sk And F-101,468

7. Skf 101468

2.3.2 Depositor-Supplied Synonyms

1. 91374-21-9

2. Ropinirol

3. Ropinirolum

4. Ropinirolum [inn-latin]

5. Ropinirol [inn-spanish]

6. 4-(2-(dipropylamino)ethyl)indolin-2-one

7. Skf 101468

8. Sk&f 101468

9. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2h-indol-2-one

10. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one

11. Chembl589

12. Nsc-758917

13. Chebi:8888

14. 030pyr8953

15. Ncgc00015893-02

16. Dsstox_cid_25195

17. Dsstox_rid_80742

18. Dsstox_gsid_45195

19. Ropitor

20. Ropitor (tn)

21. Cas-91374-21-9

22. 4-(2-(dipropylamino)ethyl)-1,3-dihydro-2h-indol-2-one

23. Ropinirole [usan:inn:ban]

24. Unii-030pyr8953

25. Ropinirole [mi]

26. Ropinirole [inn]

27. Ropinirole (usan/inn)

28. Lopac-r-4152

29. Ropinirole [usan]

30. Ropinirole [vandf]

31. Ropinirole [who-dd]

32. Lopac0_001101

33. Schembl35212

34. Bidd:gt0826

35. Spectrum1505178

36. Gtpl7295

37. Zinc2041

38. Dtxsid8045195

39. Hsdb 8252

40. 2h-indol-2-one, 4-(2-(dipropylamino)ethyl)-1,3-dihydro-

41. Hms2093k04

42. Pharmakon1600-01505178

43. Bcp09383

44. Hy-b0623

45. Tox21_110256

46. Bdbm50020680

47. Nsc758917

48. Stl454344

49. Akos015843123

50. Tox21_110256_1

51. Ccg-205177

52. Db00268

53. Nsc 758917

54. Sb65618

55. Sdccgsbi-0051070.p002

56. Skf-101468

57. Sk&f-101468

58. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]2-indolinone

59. Ncgc00015893-01

60. Ncgc00015893-03

61. Ncgc00015893-04

62. Ncgc00015893-06

63. Ncgc00094373-12

64. Ncgc00096064-01

65. Ncgc00096064-02

66. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-3h-indol-2-ol

67. Cs-0009561

68. Ft-0652500

69. C07564

70. D08489

71. Ab01563044_01

72. Ab01563044_02

73. 374r219

74. 4-(2-dipropylaminoethyl)-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one

75. L000520

76. Q420590

77. Sr-01000076215-3

78. Brd-k15933101-003-01-2

79. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-1h-indol-2-one

80. 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1.3-dihydro-2h-indol-2-one

2.4 Create Date
2005-03-25
3 Chemical and Physical Properties
Molecular Weight 260.37 g/mol
Molecular Formula C16H24N2O
XLogP32.7
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count1
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count2
Rotatable Bond Count7
Exact Mass260.188863393 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass260.188863393 g/mol
Topological Polar Surface Area32.3 Ų
Heavy Atom Count19
Formal Charge0
Complexity287
Isotope Atom Count0
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count0
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count0
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count0
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count0
Covalently Bonded Unit Count1
4 Drug and Medication Information
4.1 Drug Information
1 of 4  
Drug NameRequip
PubMed HealthRopinirole (By mouth)
Drug ClassesAntiparkinsonian
Drug LabelREQUIP contains ropinirole, a non-ergoline dopamine agonist, as the hydrochloride salt. The chemical name of ropinirole hydrochloride is 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and the empirical formula is C16H24N2OHCl. The molecular...
Active IngredientRopinirole hydrochloride
Dosage FormTablet
RouteOral
Strengtheq 4mg base; eq 5mg base; eq 0.5mg base; eq 2mg base; eq 0.25mg base; eq 1mg base; eq 3mg base
Market StatusPrescription
CompanyGlaxosmithkline

2 of 4  
Drug NameRequip xl
PubMed HealthRopinirole (By mouth)
Drug ClassesAntiparkinsonian
Drug LabelREQUIPXL contains ropinirole, a nonergoline dopamine agonist as the hydrochloride salt. The chemical name of ropinirole hydrochloride is 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and the empirical formula is C16H24N2OHCl. The mole...
Active IngredientRopinirole hydrochloride
Dosage FormTablet, extended release
RouteOral
Strengtheq 4mg base; eq 2mg base; eq 6mg base; eq 12mg base; eq 8mg base
Market StatusPrescription
CompanyGlaxosmithkline

3 of 4  
Drug NameRequip
PubMed HealthRopinirole (By mouth)
Drug ClassesAntiparkinsonian
Drug LabelREQUIP contains ropinirole, a non-ergoline dopamine agonist, as the hydrochloride salt. The chemical name of ropinirole hydrochloride is 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and the empirical formula is C16H24N2OHCl. The molecular...
Active IngredientRopinirole hydrochloride
Dosage FormTablet
RouteOral
Strengtheq 4mg base; eq 5mg base; eq 0.5mg base; eq 2mg base; eq 0.25mg base; eq 1mg base; eq 3mg base
Market StatusPrescription
CompanyGlaxosmithkline

4 of 4  
Drug NameRequip xl
PubMed HealthRopinirole (By mouth)
Drug ClassesAntiparkinsonian
Drug LabelREQUIPXL contains ropinirole, a nonergoline dopamine agonist as the hydrochloride salt. The chemical name of ropinirole hydrochloride is 4-[2-(dipropylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and the empirical formula is C16H24N2OHCl. The mole...
Active IngredientRopinirole hydrochloride
Dosage FormTablet, extended release
RouteOral
Strengtheq 4mg base; eq 2mg base; eq 6mg base; eq 12mg base; eq 8mg base
Market StatusPrescription
CompanyGlaxosmithkline

4.2 Therapeutic Uses

Antiparkinson Agents; Dopamine Agonists

National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings. Ropinirole. Online file (MeSH, 2015). Available from, as of May 1, 2015: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2014/mesh_browser/MBrowser.html


/CLINICAL TRIALS/ ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world. The Web site is maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health(NIH). Each ClinicalTrials.gov record presents summary information about a study protocol and includes the following: Disease or condition; Intervention (for example, the medical product, behavior, or procedure being studied); Title, description, and design of the study; Requirements for participation (eligibility criteria); Locations where the study is being conducted; Contact information for the study locations; and Links to relevant information on other health Web sites, such as NLM's MedlinePlus for patient health information and PubMed for citations and abstracts for scholarly articles in the field of medicine. Ropinirole is included in the database.

NIH/NLM; ClinicalTrials.Gov. Available from, as of July 18, 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/search/intervention=Ropinirole


Requip is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. /Included in US product label/

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


Requip is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). /Included in US product label/

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for ROPINIROLE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.


4.3 Drug Warning

Postmarketing reports indicate that patients may experience new or worsening mental status and behavioral changes, which may be severe, including psychotic-like behavior during treatment with Requip or after starting or increasing the dose of Requip. Other drugs prescribed to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can have similar effects on thinking and behavior. This abnormal thinking and behavior can consist of one or more of a variety of manifestations including paranoid ideation, delusions, hallucinations, confusion, psychotic-like behavior, disorientation, aggressive behavior, agitation, and delirium.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


Patients with a major psychotic disorder should ordinarily not be treated with Requip because of the risk of exacerbating the psychosis. In addition, certain medications used to treat psychosis may exacerbate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and may decrease the effectiveness of Requip.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


Ropinirole inhibits prolactin secretion in humans and could potentially inhibit lactation. Ropinirole has been detected in rat milk. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Requip is administered to a nursing woman.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


For more Drug Warnings (Complete) data for ROPINIROLE (21 total), please visit the HSDB record page.


4.4 Drug Indication

For the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease and for the treatment of primary moderate-severe restless legs syndrome.


FDA Label


Induction of vomiting in dogs.


5 Pharmacology and Biochemistry
5.1 Pharmacology

**Effects on Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome** This drug promotes the relief or improvement of symptoms of Parkinson's or restless leg syndrome by stimulatory actions on dopamine receptors, which regulate movement. **Effects on blood pressure** Clinical experience with dopamine agonists, including ropinirole, suggests an association with impaired abilities in regulating blood pressure with resulting orthostatic hypotension, especially with patients undergoing dose escalation. In some patients in clinical studies, blood pressure changes were associated with orthostatic symptoms, bradycardia, and, in one case in a healthy volunteer, transient sinus arrest accompanied by syncope. The mechanism of orthostatic hypotension caused by ropinirole is assumed to be due to a D2-mediated blunting of noradrenergic response to a standing position, followed by a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. Nausea is also a frequent symptom which accompanies orthostatic signs and symptoms. **Effects on prolactin** At oral doses as low as 0.2 mg, ropinirole suppressed serum prolactin concentrations in healthy male volunteers. Ropinirole had no dose-related effect on ECG wave form and rhythm in young, healthy, male volunteers in the range of 0.01 to 2.5 mg. **Effects on QT interval** Ropinirole had no dose- or exposure-related effect on average QT intervals in healthy male and female volunteers at doses up to 4 mg/day. The effect of ropinirole on QTc intervals at higher exposures reached either due to drug interactions, hepatic dysfunction, or at higher doses has not been adequately evaluated.


5.2 MeSH Pharmacological Classification

Antiparkinson Agents

Agents used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The most commonly used drugs act on the dopaminergic system in the striatum and basal ganglia or are centrally acting muscarinic antagonists. (See all compounds classified as Antiparkinson Agents.)


Dopamine Agonists

Drugs that bind to and activate dopamine receptors. (See all compounds classified as Dopamine Agonists.)


5.3 FDA Pharmacological Classification
5.3.1 Active Moiety
ROPINIROLE
5.3.2 FDA UNII
030PYR8953
5.3.3 Pharmacological Classes
Nonergot Dopamine Agonist [EPC]; Dopamine Agonists [MoA]
5.4 ATC Code

QN04BC04


N04BC04

S76 | LUXPHARMA | Pharmaceuticals Marketed in Luxembourg | Pharmaceuticals marketed in Luxembourg, as published by d'Gesondheetskeess (CNS, la caisse nationale de sante, www.cns.lu), mapped by name to structures using CompTox by R. Singh et al. (in prep.). List downloaded from https://cns.public.lu/en/legislations/textes-coordonnes/liste-med-comm.html. Dataset DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4587355


N - Nervous system

N04 - Anti-parkinson drugs

N04B - Dopaminergic agents

N04BC - Dopamine agonists

N04BC04 - Ropinirole


5.5 Absorption, Distribution and Excretion

Absorption

Ropinirole is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, reaching peak concentration in approximately 1 to 2 hours,. Absolute bioavailability was 45% to 55%, suggesting approximately 50% hepatic first-pass effect. The bioavailability of ropinirole prolonged release compared to the immediate release tablets is about 100%. Ingestion of food does not affect the absorption of ropinirole, although its Tmax was increased by 2.5 hours and its Cmax was reduced by approximately 25% when the drug is taken with a high-fat meal.


Route of Elimination

The majority of the absorbed dose is cleared by the liver. In clinical trials, more than 88% of a radiolabeled dose was recovered in urine. Less than 10% of the administered dose is excreted as unchanged drug in urine. _N-despropyl ropinirole_ is the major metabolite found in the urine (40%), followed by the _carboxylic acid_ metabolite (10%), and the _glucuronide_ of the hydroxy metabolite (10%).


Volume of Distribution

Ropinirole is found to be widely distributed throughout the body, with an apparent volume of distribution of **7.5 L/kg**.


Clearance

The clearance of ropinirole after oral administration is 47 L/h.


The disposition and metabolic fate of ropinirole, a novel compound indicated for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease, was studied in the mouse, rat, cynomolgus monkey and man, following oral and intravenous administration of ropinirole hydrochloride. In all species, nearly all of the p.o. administered dose (94%) was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract following administration of (14)C-ropinirole hydrochloride. In rat and monkey, the compound distributed rapidly beyond total body water and was shown to cross the blood-brain barrier. Blood clearance of the compound was high, approximately equal to one-half the hepatic blood flow in the monkey and similar to the hepatic blood flow in rat. Terminal phase elimination half-lives for the compound were relatively short (0.5 and 1.3 hr in rat and monkey respectively), although there was evidence of a second elimination phase in the monkey with an elimination half-life of approximately 5-11 hr. Plasma concentrations of ropinirole after the intravenous dose were not determined in the mouse and were below the lower limit of quantification in man (0.08 ng/mL) at the doses used in the studies described in this paper. In both animals and man, ropinirole was extensively metabolized. In the rat, the major metabolic pathway was via hydroxylation of the aromatic ring to form 7-hydroxy ropinirole. In mouse, monkey and man, the major pathway was via N-depropylation. The N-despropyl metabolite was metabolized further to form 7-hydroxy and carboxylic acid derivatives. Metabolites formed in all species were generally metabolized further by glucuronidation. 7-Hydroxy ropinirole is the only metabolite of ropinirole previously shown to possess significant dopamine agonist activity in vivo. In all species, the major route of excretion of ropinirole-related material after oral or intravenous administration of the compound was renal (60-90% of dose).

PMID:10219970 Ramji JV et al; Xenobiotica 29 (3): 311-25 (1999)


Ropinirole is a selective non-ergoline dopamine D2 receptor agonist indicated for use in treating Parkinson's disease. When taken as oral tablets, ropinirole is rapidly and almost completely absorbed, and it is extensively distributed from the vascular compartment. The bioavailability is approximately 50%. Ropinirole shows low plasma protein binding. The drug is inactivated by metabolism in the liver, and none of the major circulating metabolites have pharmacological activity. The principal metabolic enzyme is the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzyme CYP1A2. Ropinirole shows approximately linear pharmacokinetics when given as single or repeated doses, and is eliminated with a half-life of approximately 6 hours. Population pharmacokinetics have demonstrated that gender, mild or moderate renal impairment, Parkinson's disease stage and concomitant illnesses or the use of several common concomitant medications have no effect on the pharmacokinetics of ropinirole. Clearance is slower for patients older than 65 years compared with those who are younger, and in women taking hormone replacement therapy compared with those who are not. The CYP1A2 inhibitor ciprofloxacin produced increases in the plasma concentrations of ropinirole when these 2 drugs were coadministered, but no interaction was seen with theophylline which, like ropinirole, is also a substrate for CYP1A2. There is no obvious plasma concentration-effect relationship for ropinirole.

PMID:11069211 Kaye CM, Nicholls B; Clin Pharmacokinet 39 (4): 243-54 (2000)


Ropinirole is widely distributed throughout the body, with an apparent volume of distribution of 7.5 L/kg. It is up to 40% bound to plasma proteins and has a blood-to-plasma ratio of 1:1.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


Ropinirole is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, reaching peak concentration in approximately 1 to 2 hours. In clinical trials, more than 88% of a radiolabeled dose was recovered in urine and the absolute bioavailability was 45% to 55%, indicating approximately 50% first-pass effect. Relative bioavailability from a tablet compared with an oral solution is 85%. Food does not affect the extent of absorption of ropinirole, although its Tmax is increased by 2.5 hours and its Cmax is decreased by approximately 25% when the drug is taken with a high-fat meal.

NIH; DailyMed. Current Medication Information for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablet, Film Coated (Updated: August 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=de0bb94f-4fd8-4f27-5ba6-6f392dd5160f


For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for ROPINIROLE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.


5.6 Metabolism/Metabolites

Ropinirole is heavily metabolized by the liver. The most important metabolic pathways are N despropylation and hydroxylation to form the _N-despropyl_ metabolite and _hydroxy_ metabolites, both of which are inactive. The _N-despropyl_ metabolite is then converted to _carbamyl glucuronide_, carboxylic acid, and _N-despropyl hydroxy_ metabolites. Following this process, the _hydroxy_ metabolite of ropinirole is glucuronidated at a rapid rate. _In vitro_ studies show that the major cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in the metabolism of ropinirole is CYP1A2,.


Ropinirole is extensively metabolized by the liver. The N-despropyl metabolite is the major metabolite circulating in the plasma. Based on AUC data, the plasma levels of the metabolite were consistently higher than those of the parent drug suggesting a nonsaturable conversion of ropinirole to the N-despropyl metabolite. The affinity of the N-despropyl metabolite for human cloned D2 receptors is lower than the affinity of ropinirole. In addition the metabolite does not cross the blood-brain barrier; thus, it is unlikely to contribute to the therapeutic effects of ropinirole. The plasma concentrations of the hydroxylated metabolite are low and account for about 1-5% of the ropinirole concentrations. Although the hydroxylated metabolite was more active than ropinirole in in vitro D2 receptor binding studies, at therapeutic doses it is not expected to contribute to the activity of ropinirole.

Health Canada; Product Monograph for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablets, Drug Identification Number (DIN): 02232565 p.28-9 (Date of Revision: May 7, 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://webprod5.hc-sc.gc.ca/dpd-bdpp/start-debuter.do?lang=eng


The disposition and metabolic fate of ropinirole, a novel compound indicated for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease, was studied in the mouse, rat, cynomolgus monkey and man, following oral and intravenous administration of ropinirole hydrochloride. ... In the rat, the major metabolic pathway was via hydroxylation of the aromatic ring to form 7-hydroxy ropinirole. In mouse, monkey and man, the major pathway was via N-depropylation. The N-despropyl metabolite was metabolized further to form 7-hydroxy and carboxylic acid derivatives. Metabolites formed in all species were generally metabolized further by glucuronidation. 7-Hydroxy ropinirole is the only metabolite of ropinirole previously shown to possess significant dopamine agonist activity in vivo. ...

PMID:10219970 Ramji JV et al; Xenobiotica 29 (3): 311-25 (1999)


The dopamine receptor agonist ropinirole (SKF-101468) is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Ropinirole is metabolized by two routes to a series of different metabolites although the predominant pathway is species-dependent. It is unknown whether any of the metabolites contribute to its antiparkinsonian activity and whether D3 or D2 receptor agonist activity plays a preferential role. Therefore ropinirole and its primary metabolites, SKF-104557, SKF-97930 and SKF-96990, and the rat metabolite, SKF-89124 were tested in the 6-hydroxydopamine lesion model of Parkinson's disease. SKF-89124 and SKF-96990 were also assayed in radioligand binding and microphysiometer functional assays at cloned human dopamine D2 and D3. Ropinirole and SKF-89124 were equipotent in-vivo, and produced dose-related increases in circling at 0.05-0.8 mg kg(-1), s.c. (ropinirole) and 0.05-0.75 mg kg(-1), s.c. (SKF-89124). Neither SKF-96990 or SKF-97930, at doses up to 15 mg kg(-1), increased the circling rate. Some circling was observed with 15 mg kg(-1) SKF-104557 but the response was less than half that produced by ropinirole (0.8 mgkg(-1)). SKF-104557 was 150-fold less potent than ropinirole. SKF-89124 possessed-30-fold higher affinity for D3 over D2 receptors in radioligand binding studies, but was not selective in the functional microphysiometer assay. SKF-96990 was 10-fold selective for D3 over D2 receptors in the radioligand binding assay. Ropinirole and SKF-104557 are 20-fold selective for D3 over D2 receptors in radioligand binding assays whereas in microphysiometry, selectivity is 10-fold. SKF-97930 is inactive in radioligand binding and microphysiometer assays. Primary metabolites of ropinirole did not contribute significantly to its activity in this model of Parkinson's disease. The lack of dopamine D3/D2 receptor selectivity for ropinirole rules out the possibility of attributing the degree of either D2 or D3 receptor activity to the behavioural efficacy of ropinirole.

PMID:1104589 Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC236065 Reavill C et al; J Pharm Pharmacol 52 (9): 1129-35 (2000)


The in vitro metabolism of ropinirole was investigated with the aim of identifying the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for its biotransformation. The pathways of metabolism after incubation of ropinirole with human liver microsomes were N-despropylation and hydroxylation. Enzyme kinetics demonstrated the involvement of at least two enzymes contributing to each pathway. A high affinity component with a K(M) of 5-87 uM and a low affinity component with a K(M) of approximately two orders of magnitude greater were evident. The high affinity component could be abolished by pre-incubation of the microsomes with furafylline. Additionally, incubation of ropinirole with microsomes derived from CYP1A2 transfected cells readily produced the N-despropyl and hydroxy metabolites. Some inhibition of ropinirole metabolism was also observed with ketoconazole, indicating a minor contribution by CYP3A. Multivariate correlation data were consistent with the involvement of the cytochrome P450 enzymes 1A2 and 3A in the metabolism of ropinirole. Thus, it could be concluded that the major P450 enzyme responsible for ropinirole metabolism at lower (clinically relevant) concentrations is CYP1A2 with a contribution from CYP3A, particularly at higher concentrations.

PMID:9224778 Bloomer JC et al; Drug Metab Dispos 25 (7): 840-4 (1997)


Ropinirole has known human metabolites that include 4-(2-(Propylamino)ethyl)indolin-2-one and 4-[2-(Dipropylamino)ethyl]-7-hydroxy-1,3-dihydro-2h-indol-2-one.

S73 | METXBIODB | Metabolite Reaction Database from BioTransformer | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4056560


5.7 Biological Half-Life

Approximately 6 hours,.


The terminal elimination half-life is approximately 6 hr (range 2-27 hr) ... .

Health Canada; Product Monograph for Requip (Ropinirole Hydrochloride) Tablets, Drug Identification Number (DIN): 02232565 p.27 (Date of Revision: May 7, 2014). Available from, as of June 10, 2015: https://webprod5.hc-sc.gc.ca/dpd-bdpp/start-debuter.do?lang=eng


The disposition and metabolic fate of ropinirole, a novel compound indicated for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease, was studied in the mouse, rat, cynomolgus monkey and man, following oral and intravenous administration of ropinirole hydrochloride. ... Terminal phase elimination half-lives for the compound were relatively short (0.5 and 1.3 hr in rat and monkey respectively), although there was evidence of a second elimination phase in the monkey with an elimination half-life of approximately 5-11 hr. ...

PMID:10219970 Ramji JV et al; Xenobiotica 29 (3): 311-25 (1999)


5.8 Mechanism of Action

Ropinirole is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist. Ropinirole has the highest affinity at the D3 receptors, which are concentrated in the limbic areas of the brain and may be responsible for some of the neuropsychiatric effects. The exact mechanism of action of ropinirole as a treatment for Parkinsons disease is unknown, however, it is believed to be related to its ability to selectively stimulate dopamine D2 receptors within the caudate-putamen system in the brain. This system affects body movement. Negligible affinity is seen for ropinirole at 2 adrenoreceptors in the periphery and 5HT-1 receptor. Ropinirole has no affinity at the D1-like receptors, benzodiazepine or GABA receptors. The precise mechanism of action of ropinirole as a treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome is unknown, however, it is believed to be related to its ability to stimulate dopamine receptors.


The present study determined its affinity and agonist efficacy at recombinant human (h) dopamine hD2, hD3 and hD4 and serotonin (5-HT) h5-HT1A, h5-HT1B and h5-HT1D receptors. Roxindole exhibited high affinity at hD3 as well as at hD2 (short isoform) and hD4 (4-repeat isoform) receptors (pKi values 8.93, 8.55 and 8.23, respectively). Further, it displayed high affinity at hS-HT1A receptors (pKi = 9.42) but modest affinity at 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors (pKi values 6.00 and 7.05, respectively). In [35S]GTPgammaS binding experiments, roxindole was >20-fold more potent in stimulating [35S]GTPgammaS binding at hD3 than at hD2 or hD4 receptors (pEC50 = 9.23 vs. 7.88 and 7.69). However, whereas roxindole exhibited partial agonist activity at hD3 and hD4 sites (Emax = 30.0% and 35.1%, respectively, relative to dopamine = 100%), it only weakly activated hD2 receptors (Emax = 10.5%). Roxindole potently blocked dopamine-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding at hD2 receptors (pkappaB = 9.05). In comparison, the dopamine receptor agonist, (-)quinpirole, acted as a partial agonist at hD3 and hD4 sites (Emax = 67.4% and 66.3%, respectively) but surpassed the efficacy of dopamine at hD2 receptors (Emax = 132%). At h5-HT1A receptors, roxindole behaved as a high affinity (pKi = 9.42) partial agonist (Emax = 59.6%, relative to 5-HT = 100%), whereas (-)quinpirole had negligible activity. The selective 5-HT1A antagonist, WAY 100,635, blocked roxindole (100 nM)-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding at h5-HT1A receptors in a concentration-dependent manner (pkappaB = 9.28). Roxindole only weakly stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding at 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors (Emax = 27.1% and 13.7%). The present data suggest that roxindole activates mainly D3 vs. D2 or D4 receptors and 5-HT1A vs. 5-HT1B or 5-HT1D receptors. Activation of D3 and/or 5-HT1A receptors may thus contribute to its potential antidepressant properties.

PMID:10431754 Newman-Tancredi A et al; Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 359 (6): 447-53 (1999)


The aim of the present study was to characterize functional responses to ropinirole, its major metabolites in man (SKF-104557 (4-[2-(propylamino)ethyl]-2-(3H) indolone), SKF-97930 (4-carboxy-2-(3H) indolone)) and other dopamine receptor agonists at human dopamine D2(long) (hD2), D3 (hD3) and D4.4 (hD4) receptors separately expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells using microphysiometry. 2. All the receptor agonists tested (ropinirole, SKF-104557, SKF-97930, bromocriptine, lisuride, pergolide, pramipexole, talipexole, dopamine) increased extracellular acidification rate in Chinese hamster ovary clones expressing the human D2, D3 or D4 receptor. The pEC50s of ropinirole at hD2, hD3 and hD4 receptors were 7.4, 8.4 and 6.8, respectively. Ropinirole is therefore at least 10 fold selective for the human dopamine D3 receptor over the other D2 receptor family members. 3. At the hD2 and hD3 dopamine receptors all the compounds tested were full agonists as compared to quinpirole. Talipexole and the ropinirole metabolite, SKF-104557, were partial agonists at the hD4 receptor. 4. Bromocriptine and lisuride had a slow onset of agonist action which precluded determination of EC50s. 5. The rank order of agonist potencies was dissimilar to the rank order of radioligand binding affinities at each of the dopamine receptor subtypes. Functional selectivities of the dopamine receptor agonists, as measured in the microphysiometer, were less than radioligand binding selectivities. 6. The results show that ropinirole is a full agonist at human D2, D3 and D4 dopamine receptors. SKF-104557 the major human metabolite of ropinirole, had similar radioligand binding affinities to, but lower functional potencies than, the parent compound.

PMID:10455328 Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566138 Coldwell MC et al; Br J Pharmacol 127 (7): 1696-702 (1999)


Ropinirole, which is a non-ergot dopamine agonist derivative, exerts therapeutic benefits in Parkinson's disease (PD). Based on recent studies implicating dopamine receptors 2 and 3 (D2R and D3R) as possible targets of ropinirole, we over-expressed these dopamine receptor genes in the dopamine-denervated striatum of rodents to reveal whether their over-expression modulated ropinirole activity. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats initially received unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the medial forebrain bundle. At 1 month after surgery, successfully lesioned animals (3 or less forelimb akinesia score, and 8 or more apomorphine-induced rotations/min over 1 hr) were randomly assigned to intrastriatal injection (ipsilateral to the lesion) of blank lentiviral vector, D2R, D3R or both genes. At about 5 months post-lesion, ropinirole (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered daily for 9 consecutive days. The subtherapeutic dose of ropinirole improved the use of previously akinetic forelimb and produced robust circling behavior in lesioned animals with striatal over-expression of both D2R and D3R compared to lesioned animals that received blank vector. In contrast, the subtherapeutic dose of ropinirole generated only modest motor effects in lesioned animals with sole over-expression of D2R or D3R. Western immunoblot and autoradiographic assays showed enhanced D2R and D3R protein levels coupled with normalized D2R and D3R binding in the ventral striatum of lesioned animals with lentiviral over-expression of both D2R and D3R relative to vehicle-treated lesioned animals. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that D2R and D3R GFP fluorescent cells colocalized with enkephalin and substance P immunoreactive medium spiny neurons. These data support the use of the subtherapeutic dose of ropinirole in a chronic model of PD.

PMID:17573046 Matsukawa N et al; Brain Res 1160: 113-23 (2007)


Ropinirole hydrochloride, a dipropylaminoethyl indolone derivative, is a nonergot-derivative dopamine receptor agonist. In in vitro binding studies, ropinirole demonstrated high binding specificity for and intrinsic activity at dopamine D2 receptors compared with other dopamine receptor agonists (e.g., bromocriptine, pergolide), having a higher affinity for the D3 subtype than for the D2 or D4 subtypes. Ropinirole binds with moderate affinity to opiate receptors but has little or no affinity for alpha1-, alpha2-, or beta-adrenergic; dopamine D1; benzodiazepine; gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); serotonin type 1 (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1)); serotonin type 2 (5-HT2); or muscarinic receptors.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2015; Drug Information 2015. Bethesda, MD. 2015, p. 2665