Neupro Patch

What are Neupro patches?

Neupro patches are a treatment for restless legs syndrome. They have a powerful medication that eases the painful and uncomfortable sensations in your legs. This helps you get the sleep you need and get back in control of your life again. Neupro patches are also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.  

Neupro patches are a transdermal treatment. This means you put the patch on your skin and the medication is slowly absorbed into your system. So you don’t need to remember to take tablets. It’s also a long lasting treatment, as you only need to use one patch a day to keep your symptoms controlled. 

How do Neupro patches work?

Neupro patches contain the active ingredient rotigotine. Rotigotine is a type of drug called a dopamine agonist. This means it works by binding to dopamine receptors and copying the way dopamine works. 

When you have unmedicated RLS, you’ll often have lower levels of dopamine in your blood. This is thought to be caused by problems producing dopamine in the part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which controls movement.  

Lower dopamine activity is part of what causes the symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome. So by acting on the dopamine receptors and working like dopamine, Neupro patches reduce your symptoms.  

What doses of Neupro patches are there?

Neupro comes in a range of different doses. For restless legs syndrome, the recommended dose is usually 1-3mg per day, as one patch. You’ll usually start on one 1mg patch per day. If this doesn’t control your symptoms, you might need a higher dose.

If you talk to our clinicians about your health, we can help you find the right dose for you. If you start on a lower dose Neupro patch and think you need more, you just have to log into your account to message our clinicians. 

How to use Neupro patches

Follow your clinician’s advice on how exactly to use Neupro patches. If you have any questions, ask your clinician or message us if you’re using our service. 

• Try to apply Neupro patches at the same time everyday. 
• Pick a place to stick your patch. If you’ve used Neupro before, make sure not to apply it in the same place you’ve used another patch in the last fourteen days. 
• You can apply the patch to your upper arms, shoulders, stomach, on your side between your ribs and hips, your hips and your thighs.
• Remove a sachet from the box and open it up. To do this, hold it in both hands and peel apart the foil. 
• Take out the patch. Turn the side covered with a liner towards you. Then bend the patch and peel off each part of the liner. Don’t touch the sticky side of the patch with your fingers.
• Put it on the piece of skin you’ve picked and press it down firmly. Hold it on your skin for 30 seconds using the palm of your hand. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• When it’s time to put on another patch the next day, remove the old one first and wash the area with soap and water.

How long does it take Neupro patches to work?

Neupro patches start working right away. The medication is absorbed into your system slowly through the skin, so its effects get better over time. If it’s your first time using the patch, remember that it usually takes a couple of days for the medication to keep at stable levels in your system all the time. 

What should I do if I make a mistake while using Neupro patches

If you use too much Neupro, you could get side effects. Seek medical attention right away if you have any worrying symptoms. Try to remove and replace your Neupro patches at the same time everyday. 

Don’t stop using Neupro without talking to your clinician first. They will need to work with you on a plan for reducing the medication. You can take a bath or shower while the patch is on your skin, but don’t soak the patch in a hot bath. This can make your skin absorb the medication too quickly.

If you forget to use Neupro or your patch comes off early, apply a patch as soon as you realise. Then take it off and use a new one at your usual time. If you’ve forgotten to take off an old patch, take it off when you remember and apply a new one. Replace it at your normal time.