Warfarin and ropinirole interaction. 2001

J D Bair, and T F Oppelt
Palmetto Memorial Hospital, Columbia, SC, USA.

OBJECTIVE To report a case of increased international normalized ratio (INR) in a geriatric patient receiving warfarin and ropinirole. METHODS A 63-year-old African-American man with a history of Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and status post-cardio-vascular accident was evaluated for symptoms of progressing stiffness and rigidity. Ropinirole was added to his current therapy for Parkinson disease, with a corresponding decrease in the dose of levodopa/carbidopa to allow levodopa sparing. On laboratory evaluation, he was noted to have an increased INR nine days after these adjustments; the INR had previously been stable. No other significant medication, social, or diet changes were noted. Warfarin was withheld for four days and restarted at approximately 75% of the previous weekly dose. The patient had no obvious signs of bleeding. Furthermore, the warfarin dose was again increased after discontinuation of ropinirole due to common gastrointestinal adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant whose narrow therapeutic index and potential for drug interaction is well documented. It is always possible that a change in blood coagulability can occur without an obvious contributable cause; however, an acute change in a previously stable INR with the addition of other medications always raises questions as to the possible mechanism of adverse reaction. No previously documented interaction of this precise nature has been identified. CONCLUSIONS Ropinirole may elevate the anticoagulant effects of warfarin. Patients receiving warfarin should be considered for more frequent INR monitoring when ropinirole is added, adjusted, or discontinued from their medical regimen.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007211 Indoles Benzopyrroles with the nitrogen at the number one carbon adjacent to the benzyl portion, in contrast to ISOINDOLES which have the nitrogen away from the six-membered ring.
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010300 Parkinson Disease A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75) Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000925 Anticoagulants Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING. Anticoagulant Agent,Anticoagulant Drug,Anticoagulant,Anticoagulant Agents,Anticoagulant Drugs,Anticoagulation Agents,Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors,Agent, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulation,Drug, Anticoagulant,Drugs, Anticoagulant,Inhibitors, Indirect Thrombin,Thrombin Inhibitors, Indirect
D000978 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. Antiparkinson Drugs,Antiparkinsonian Agents,Antiparkinsonians,Agents, Antiparkinson,Agents, Antiparkinsonian,Drugs, Antiparkinson
D014859 Warfarin An anticoagulant that acts by inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. Warfarin is indicated for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of venous thrombosis and its extension, pulmonary embolism, and atrial fibrillation with embolization. It is also used as an adjunct in the prophylaxis of systemic embolism after myocardial infarction. Warfarin is also used as a rodenticide. 4-Hydroxy-3-(3-oxo-1-phenylbutyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one,Aldocumar,Apo-Warfarin,Coumadin,Coumadine,Gen-Warfarin,Marevan,Tedicumar,Warfant,Warfarin Potassium,Warfarin Sodium,Potassium, Warfarin,Sodium, Warfarin
D019934 International Normalized Ratio System established by the World Health Organization and the International Committee on Thrombosis and Hemostasis for monitoring and reporting blood coagulation tests. Under this system, results are standardized using the International Sensitivity Index for the particular test reagent/instrument combination used. INR,International Normalized Ratios,Normalized Ratio, International,Normalized Ratios, International,Ratio, International Normalized,Ratios, International Normalized

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