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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Microelectrode Array Recording of Sinoatrial Node Firing Rate to Identify Intrinsic Cardiac Pacemaking Defects in Mice

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Published on: July 5, 2021

Ropinirole-induced symptomatic sinus node dysfunction.

Catherine Szymanski¹, Serge Boey, Jean S Hermida

¹Department of Cardiology, Picardie, University Hospital, Amiens, Cedex, France. caszymanski@yahoo.fr

Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE

|August 8, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Restless legs syndrome treatment with ropinirole can cause syncope due to prolonged sinus pauses. Discontinuing ropinirole resolved symptoms, suggesting a link between the drug and cardiac events.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Cardiology
Pharmacology

Background:

Restless legs syndrome is a common neurological disorder.
Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist frequently prescribed for restless legs syndrome.
Cardiac side effects of ropinirole are uncommon but warrant investigation.

Observation:

A patient treated with ropinirole for restless legs syndrome experienced syncope.
The syncope was attributed to prolonged sinus pauses identified on electrocardiogram.
No pre-existing organic sinus node dysfunction was noted in the patient.

Findings:

Ropinirole treatment was discontinued following the syncopal episode.
The patient remained asymptomatic after ropinirole cessation.
This case suggests ropinirole can induce symptomatic sinus pauses.

Implications:

Clinicians should be aware of the potential for ropinirole to cause cardiac arrhythmias.
Patients on ropinirole should be monitored for signs of bradycardia or syncope.
Further research may be needed to elucidate the mechanism of ropinirole-induced sinus pauses.