Entacapone is an ‘Antiparkinsonian‘ generic drug for treating Parkinson Disease. Brand Drug prescription – Comtan.
Medical Services
Parkinson’s disease
- Chronic (persistent) disorder of part of the brain, which affects the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body.
General Information of the drug
Entacapone is always used in combination with levodopa + carbidopa. It is prescribed For Parkinson’s disease patients for whom levodopa + carbidopa loses its effectiveness between doses.
Entacapone enhances the effect of levodopa + carbidopa by reversing the action of an enzyme known as catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which is primarily responsible for breaking down levodopa in the body.
Some patients experience signs and symptoms of an end-of-dose “wearing-off” effect with these drugs.
Cautions
- If you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients -> Do not take entacapone !
- People with liver disease should use entacapone with caution as they may accumulate twice as much of this drug in their blood as people with normal liver function.
- Entacapone may cause kidney toxicity.
- Entacapone may increase the risk of dizziness or fainting when rising from a sitting or lying down position.
- Do not take entacapone with phenelzine or tranyleypromine -> Serious reaction may occur.
- Hallucinations have been reported with other Parkinson’s disease drugs.
- Entacapone has been rarely associated with the formation of fibrous tissues in unusual places such as the urinary tract and lungs. It has also caused fluid in the lungs.
Intake and Dosage
- Adult Dose Intake :- 200 mg with each levodopa + carbidopa dose, up to 1600 mg a day.
- Entacapone may be taken with or without food. However, Do Not Mix entacapone with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAGI) antidepressants phenelzine or tranylcypromine.
- Entacapone may be taken with the MA01 selegiline.
- Other drugs broken down by COMT will also be affected by entacapone.
- lsoproterenol, epinephrine, ephedrine, norepinephrine, isoetharine, and others will interact with entacapone, even when taken by inhalation. The result may be increased heart rate, arrhythmias, and excessive changes in blood pressure.
- Cholestyramine, probenecid, erythromycin, rifampin, ampicillin, and chioramphenicol may interfere with the elimination of entacapone from the body.
- Entacapone may enhance the effects of sedatives and other nervous system depressants.
- Although there have been no reports of significant entacapone overdose as of publcation. But theoretically, a massive entacapone overdose could prove lethal by completely inhibiting COMT throughout the body.
- Doses up to 800 mg have been taken and side effects were mainly abdominal pain and loose stools.
- Other effects that might be expected include difficulty breathing, loss of muscle coordination, reduced level of activity, and convulsions.
- Overdose victims should be taken to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible ( ALWAYS bring along the prescription bottle or container. )
Important Note
- This drug can cause dizziness, nausea, sweating, or fainting when rising quickly from a sitting or lying position, especially at the beginning of treatment.
- Always take your entacapone dose together with your levodopa + carbidopa dose. If you forget a dose. take it as soon as you remember. ( If it is within 2 hours of your next dose. skip the dose you forgot and continue with your regular schedule. )
- If you experience an increased body movements and twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled tongue, lip, face, arm, or leg movement, consult your doctor as he may need to adjust your dose of levodopa + carbidopa.
- Until your body has become accustomed to the effects of entacapone, it’s highly advisable to be caution when performing tasks, such as driving, that require coordination and concentration.
- Gradually reducing the dose of entacapone decreases some drug side effects.
- Patients who stop using entacapone should be monitored as rapid withdrawal of the drug can cause high fever, sweating, unstable blood pressure, stupor, and muscular rigidity.
- If your urine to turn a brownish-orange color after taking Entacapone, it is usually harmless.
Possible Side Effects
Most of the common effects after taking this drugs are :-
- difficulty performing voluntary muscle functions,
- excessive muscle activity,
- nausea,
- urine discoloration,
- diarrhea,
- reduced muscle activity,
- dizziness,
- fatigue,
- constipation,
- abdominal pain.
Less common side effects or rarely occurs side effects ( Consult your doctor immediately ) :-
- low blood pressure and fainting ( especially when rising from a sitting or lying position ),
- hallucinations,
- anxiety,
- agitation,
- gastritis or other stomach disorders,
- dry mouth,
- vomiting,
- increased sweating,
- back pain,
- taste changes,
- shortness of breath,
- easy bruising,
- weakness,
- bacterial infection,
- muscle damage or death,
- high fever,
- confusion.
Pregnancy/Breast-feeding period :
- When this drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be weighed against its risks.
- Entacapone causes birth defects, miscarriage and abortion in pregnant animals. It has been known that Entacapone passes into the breast milk of animals, but at the moment if publication, there is no information on humans is available. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should use infant formula.
