This information is published for awareness and to encourage reporting of the occurrence of similar adverse reactions.
Key messages
- Dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS) is a set of psychiatric and physical symptoms that occur in some patients who reduce the dose of, or discontinue, medicinal products containing dopamine agonists (DAs).
- Specialists of Health Canada assessed a case series of 23 reports (2 from Canada and 21 from other countries). Dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS) was recorded after the use of bromocriptine, cabergoline, pramipexole, quinagolide, ropinirole and rotigotine. However, a causal relationship was established between DAWS and the use of the following dopamine agonists (DAs): pramipexole, quinagolide and ropinirole. There is a limited amount of evidence to establish a causal relationship with other DAs marketed in Canada.
- Healthcare professionals and patients should be aware of the potential symptoms of withdrawal and the risk factors for developing antidepressant discontinuation syndrome associated with the use of antidepressants.
Dopamine agonists (DAs) are a class of medicinal products used in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome, acromegaly and disorders of prolactin secretion.
Symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome are anxiety, panic attacks, depression, agitation, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, generalized pain, etc. Psychiatric symptoms, in particular agitation, are the most common.
Some patients have only one ADWS symptom, while others have 2 or more, which may begin at any time after reducing the antidepressant dose or after stopping treatment. The severity of symptoms can vary from mild to severe. In some patients, symptoms disappear within days or weeks with complete recovery, while in others they may last for months or years.
The original text of this publication can be found at the corresponding linkhttps://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/health-product-infowatch/june-2021.html#a5.1
