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Entacapone

 
Drug Info: Entacapone

Brand names: Comtan®

Chemical formula:



Entacapone Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

ENTACAPONE (en TA ka pone) is used in combination with levodopa; carbidopa therapy to treat Parkinson's disease.
 
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•liver disease
•an unusual or allergic reaction to entacapone, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water at the same time you take your levodopa-carbidopa. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You can take this medicine with or without food. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•isoniazid
•medicines called MAO Inhibitors like Nardil, Parnate, Marplan, Eldepryl
•procarbazine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•ampicillin
•apomorphine
•bitolterol
•cholestyramine
•chloramphenicol
•dopamine, dobutamine
•epinephrine, norepinephrine
•erythromycin
•isoetharine
•isoproterenol
•methyldopa
•probenecid
•rifampicin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

This medicine may also increase the side effects caused by levodopa-carbidopa like nausea or restless movements. If you notice an increase in or the appearance of certain side effects, contact your physician. The dose of levodopa-carbidopa may need to be lowered. Do not decrease your medicine dose without asking your doctor or health care professional.
 
You may get dizzy or have difficulty controlling your movements. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks. Dizziness and sleepiness are more common at the beginning of treatment with this medicine.
 
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.
 
This medicine may cause urine to look dark yellow to orange or brown in color. This is normal and is not cause for concern.
 
There have been reports of increased sexual urges or other strong urges such as gambling while taking some medicines for Parkinson's disease. If you experience any of these urges while taking this medicine, you should report it to your health care provider as soon as possible.
 
You should check your skin often for changes to moles and new growths while taking this medicine. Call your doctor if you notice any of these changes.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•confusion
•decrease in urination
•feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
•fever
•hallucinations
•involuntary muscle movements
•sore muscles
•stomach pain
•vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•constipation or diarrhea
•drowsiness or fatigue
•nausea
•upset stomach

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

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Wikipedia: Entacapone
Top
Entacapone
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(2E)-2-cyano-3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)-N,N-diethylprop-2-enamide
Identifiers
CAS number 130929-57-6
ATC code N04BX02
PubChem 5281081
DrugBank APRD00416
Chemical data
Formula C14H15N3O5 
Mol. mass 305.286 g/mol
Synonyms
  • (E)-a-cyano-N,N-diethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrocinnamamide
  • (E)-2-cyano-N,N-diethyl-3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-(nitrophenyl)acrylamide
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 35%
Protein binding 98% (binds to serum albumin)
Metabolism Hepatic
Half life 0.4-0.7 hour
Excretion 90% feces, 10% urine
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

C(US)

Legal status

Prescription only, unscheduled (USA)

Routes Oral
 Yes check.svgY(what is this?)  (verify)

Entacapone (INN) (pronounced /ˌɛntəkəˈpoʊn/, /ɛnˈtækəpoʊn/) is a drug that functions as a catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

When administered in conjunction with dopaminergic agents such as L-DOPA, entacapone prevents COMT from metabolizing L-DOPA into 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-L-phenylalanine (3-OMD) in the periphery, which does not easily cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Pharmacologically, entacapone is somewhat similar to carbidopa or benserazide, in that it is an inhibitor of an enzyme that converts L-DOPA into a compound that cannot cross the BBB. Carbidopa and beserazide inhibit aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, which converts L-DOPA into dopamine, which cannot cross the BBB.

Entacapone is a member of the class of drugs known as nitrocatechols.

The most frequent undesirable effects caused by entacapone relate to the increased effects of L-DOPA, such as involuntary movements (dyskinesias). These occur most frequently at the beginning of entacapone treatment. Others common side effects are gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pains. The substance may cause urine to turn reddish-brown. This is a harmless side effect and is not a cause for concern. In studies with entacapone, some people have reported experiencing a dry mouth.

Products

Entacapone is developed by Orion Pharma and marketed by Novartis under the trade name Comtan in the United States.

Stalevo is another Novartis medication that contains entacapone in combination with carbidopa and levodopa (active ingredients in Sinemet).

External links

  • [1] (fda website)
  • Comtan (manufacturer's website)
  • Stalevo (manufacturer's website)

 
 
Learn More
Carbidopa; Levodopa; Entacapone
COMT inhibitors (in medicine)
Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors

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