Entacapone (By mouth)
en-TAK-a-pone
Treats Parkinson disease.
Drug classes
Antiparkinsonian (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Entacapone is used in combination with levodopa/carbidopa to treat end-of-dose “wearing off” effect in patients with Parkinson’s disease, sometimes called shaking palsy. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
Dopamine is a naturally occurring substance in the brain that helps provide control of movement and activities such as walking and talking. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, there is not enough dopamine in some parts of the brain. Entacapone helps levodopa last longer by blocking a substance called COMT enzyme. This enzyme breaks down levodopa before it reaches the brain. When less levodopa is broken down, more is available to the brain. Increased availability of levodopa may lead to smoother and steadier levels of dopamine in the brain, which may provide better symptom control for longer periods each day. This may lead to improvement in daily activities.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some medicines can affect how entacapone works. Tell your doctor if you are also using alpha-methyldopa, apomorphine, cholestyramine, dobutamine, dopamine, epinephrine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, norepinephrine, probenecid, selegiline, warfarin, an MAO inhibitor (MAOI, such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine), or medicine to treat an infection (such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, rifampicin).
Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to entacapone.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, low blood pressure, muscle problems, or a history of mental illness.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Low blood pressure Unusual changes in mood or behavior, compulsive behaviors, hallucinations Possible increased risk for skin cancerThis medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. It may even cause you to fall asleep without warning. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand up slowly if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Confusion, unusual changes in mood or behaviors, behaviors you cannot control
Extreme sleepiness or drowsiness
Fever, muscle pain, stiffness, tenderness, or weakness
Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Severe diarrhea
Skin changes or growths
Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control, tremors, problems with balance or walking
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Brown urine
Mild diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Comtan
There may be other brand names for this medicine.