Entacapone

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (en ta' ka pone)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Entacapone is an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). It is used in combination with levodopa and carbidopa (Sinemet) to treat the end-of-dose 'wearing-off' symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Entacapone helps the levodopa and carbidopa work better by allowing more of it to reach the brain, where it has its effects.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.


How should this medicine be used?

Entacapone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is taken with every dose of levodopa and carbidopa, up to 8 times a day. Entacapone may be taken with or without food. Read your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take entacapone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Entacapone helps control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but it does not cure it. Continue to take entacapone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking entacapone without talking to your doctor. Stopping entacapone suddenly may make your Parkinson's disease worse and could have other dangerous effects. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually if necessary.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking entacapone,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to entacapone or any other drugs.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially ampicillin, apomorphine (Zydis), bitolterol (Tornalate), chloramphenicol (AK-Chlor, Chloromycetin), cholestyramine (Cholybar, Questran, Questran Light, others), medications that cause drowsiness (including medications for anxiety and sleeping pills), dobutamine (Dobutrex), epinephrine (AsthmaHaler, EpiPen Auto-Injector, Primatene Mist, others), erythromycin (E-Base, E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), isoetharine (Arm-a-Med Isoetharine, Beta-2, Bronkometer, others), isoproterenol (Dispos-a-Med Isoproterenol, Isuprel, Medihaler-Iso, others), methyldopa (Aldomet), phenelzine (Nardil), probenecid (Benemid), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and vitamins and herbal products.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease or a history of alcoholism.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking entacapone, call your doctor.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking entacapone.
  • you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how entacapone affects you.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Entacapone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • dizziness
  • diarrhea
  • upset stomach
  • movements you cannot control
  • stomach pain
  • drowsiness
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • difficulty breathing
  • hallucinations
  • high fever
  • confusion
  • muscle stiffness
  • weakness with or without a fever


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Antidyskinetics
  • Anti-Parkinson Drugs
  • Dopaminergic Agents
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nervous System
  • Other dopaminergic agents
Prescribed Used as an adjunct to levodopa / carbidopa in the symptomatic treatment of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who experience the signs an...
Weight :305.286
Structure Entacapone
Generic Drug Entacapone prescribed Used as an adjunct to levodopa / carbidopa in the symptomatic treatment of patients with idiopathic Parkinson
Formula

C14H15N3O5

Entacapone has 2 Brands listed


Adcapon (10 mg)Adcapone (10 mg)

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