The white round pill with the imprint PM1 logo has been identified as Pramipexole Dihydrochloride 0.125 mg supplied by Watson Pharmaceuticals. PM1pill is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD; a disorder of the nervous system that causes difficulties with movement, muscle control, and balance), including shaking of parts of the body, stiffness, slowed movements, and problems with balance.
PM1pill is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS; a condition that causes discomfort in the legs and a strong urge to move the legs, especially at night and when sitting or lying down). Pramipexole is in a class of medications called dopamine agonists. It works by acting in place of dopamine, a natural substance in the brain that is needed to control movement. Pramipexole 0.125 mg is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
How should this medicine be used?
Pramipexole comes as a tablet and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. When pramiprexole is used to treat Parkinson’s disease, the regular tablet is usually taken three times a day and the extended-release tablet is usually taken once daily. When pramiprexole is used to treat restless legs syndrome, the regular tablet is usually taken once a day, 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. Pramipexole extended-release tablets are not used to treat restless legs syndrome. Pramipexole may be taken with or without food, but taking pramipexole with food may help to prevent nausea that may be caused by the medication. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take pramipexole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.
Your doctor will start you on a low dose of pramipexole and gradually increase your dose. Your doctor will probably not increase your dose more often than once every 4 to 7 days. It may take several weeks before you reach a dose that works for you.
If you are taking PM1 pillto treat restless legs syndrome, you should know that as your treatment continues, your symptoms may worsen, may begin earlier in the evening or afternoon, or may occur in the early morning. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen or if they begin to occur at different times than in the past.
PM1pillcontrols the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome but does not cure these conditions. Continue to take pramipexole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pramipexole without talking to your doctor. If you are taking PM1pill to treat Parkinson’s disease and you suddenly stop taking the medication, you may experience, fever, muscle stiffness, changes in consciousness, and other symptoms. If you are taking PM1pill to treat restless legs syndrome and you suddenly stop taking the medication, your symptoms may become worse than they were before you started taking this medication. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.
If you stop taking PM1pill for any reason, do not start to take the medication again without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably want to increase your dose again gradually.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.
What side effects can this medication cause?
PM1pill may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• nausea
• weakness
• dizziness
• loss of balance, falling
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• difficulty remembering
• abnormal dreams
• heartburn
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dry mouth
• swollen, stiff, or painful joints
• pain in back, arms or legs
• frequent urination or urgent need to urinate
• difficulty urinating or pain when urinating
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), confusion, aggressive behavior, agitation, abnormal thoughts
• changes in vision
• abnormal body movements and motions that you cannot control
• changes in the way you sit or stand that you cannot control, such as your neck bending forward, bending forward at the waist, or tilting sideways when you sit, stand or walk,
• dark, red or cola-colored urine
• muscle tenderness
• muscle stiffness or aching
• muscle weakness
PM1pill may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
PM1pill Safety Information
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use PM1pill if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
• low blood pressure;
• dizziness after getting up too fast;
• daytime drowsiness;
• kidney disease; or
• problems controlling your muscle movements.
People with Parkinson’s disease may have a higher risk of skin cancer (melanoma). Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for.
It is not known whether PM1pill will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using PM1pill.
It is not known whether PM1pill passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
