Entacapone is an adjunct medication to relieve Parkinson's symptoms. This drug will usually be used with other medications for Parkinson's, such as levodopa or carbidopa.
When a person has Parkinson's disease, dopamine levels in the brain are quite low. This condition causes symptoms, such as tremors, impaired movement, coordination, and walking, or muscle stiffness.
Entacapone will work by blocking the action of enzymes catechol O-methyltransferase. This enzyme is responsible for preventing levodopa from being broken down into dopamine in the brain. That way, levodopa levels will last longer in the brain and symptoms won't get worse.
Entacapone trademark: Comtan, Stalevo
What is Entacapone
| group | Prescription drugs |
| Category | antiparkinson |
| Benefit | As an adjunct medication to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. |
| Consumed by | Mature |
| Entacapone for pregnant and lactating women | Category C: Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. The drug should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. It is not known whether entacapone can be absorbed into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not take this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Tablet |
Warning Before Taking Entacapone
Entacapone should only be taken under a doctor's prescription. Some things to consider before taking entacapone are:
- Do not take Entacapone if you are allergic to this drug. Tell your doctor about any allergies you have.
- Tell your doctor if you are addicted to alcohol or have liver disease, hypotension, sleep disturbances, or mental disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had phaechromocytoma, rhabdomyolysis, or malignant neuroleptic syndrome.
- Avoid doing activities that require alertness while taking entacapone, as this drug can cause dizziness and drowsiness.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements, or herbal products.
- Tell your doctor right away if you experience an allergic drug reaction, serious side effect, or overdose after taking entacapone.
Dosage and Instructions for Use Entacapone
As an adjunct in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the dose of entacapone is 200 mg with a dose of levodopa or carbidopa. The maximum dose is 2,000 mg per day. Dosage adjustments will be adjusted to the condition and dose of levodopa or carbidopa.
How to Take Entacapone Correctly
Follow the doctor's advice and read the information listed on the drug packaging label before taking entacapone. Do not change your dose and stop taking medication without your doctor's permission, as this can make the symptoms of Parkinson's disease worse.
Entacapone can be taken with or without food. To reduce side effects such as nausea, you can take entacapone with food. During treatment with entacapone, patients are advised to drink lots of water.
It is recommended to take entacapone regularly at the same time every day for maximum treatment effect. If you forget to take this medicine, take it immediately if the gap with the next consumption schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
Sometimes, taking entacapone can cause dizziness due to decreased blood pressure. Avoid standing for too long and be sure to stand up slowly if you are taking entacapone while sitting.
Store entacapone tablets in a closed container in a cool room. Protect this medication from exposure to direct sunlight and keep it out of reach of children.
Entacapone Interactions with Other Drugs
Some of the interactions between drugs that can occur if entacapone is used with other drugs are as follows:
- Increased risk of fatal side effects when used with MAOI drugs, such as phenelzine or isocarboxazid
- Enhances the effect of entacapone when used with dopamine agonist drugs, such as bromocriptine
- Enhances sedative effect when used with central nervous system depressants or tranquilizers
Entacapone Side Effects and Dangers
Some of the possible side effects after using entacapone are:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Dizzy
- dry mouth
- Bloated
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
Check with your doctor if the side effects above don't go away or get worse. Immediately see a doctor if you have an allergic reaction to the drug or the following serious side effects:
- Daze, hallucinations, or depression
- Fall asleep suddenly not at night
- Involuntary and involuntary movements of facial muscles, including eye twitching, chewing movements, or moving the tongue, without realizing it
- Urine changes color to brown or yellow orange
- Difficulty breathing or pain when breathing
- High fever with muscle stiffness
- Diarrhea that doesn't go away
- Easy bruising
- Hard to breathe
