COMTAN
Generic Name: Entacapone (en-TACK-ah-pone)
Brand Name: Comtan
Comtan is used for: treating Parkinson disease when used with levodopa/carbidopa.
Note: Comtan does not produce the desired results for PD if not used with levodopa/carbidopa simultaneously.
Comtan is a catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. It works by increasing the levels of levodopa/carbidopa in the brain, thereby enhancing its effectiveness.
Do NOT use Comtan if you are allergic to any ingredient in Comtan or if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) within the last 2 weeks. This does not include the medicine selegiline.
Before using Comtan : Some medical conditions may interact with Comtan . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have liver disease or rhabdomyolysis (muscle weakness or aching)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Comtan . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
· Ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cholestyramine, erythromycin, nonselective MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine, tranylcypromine), probenecid, or rifampicin because the actions and side effects of Comtan may be increased
· Apomorphine, bitolterol, dobutamine, dopamine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, methyldopa, or sympathomimetics (eg, epinephrine) because the actions and side effects may be increased by Comtan
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur.
Comtan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Important safety information: Comtan may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Comtan .
• Using Comtan alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and taking other medicines that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Comtan .
• Hallucinations and nausea may occur while taking Comtan , especially in the beginning of therapy.
• You may experience an increase in involuntary movements while taking Comtan .
• This medicine may color the urine a brownish orange. This is normal.
• Before you have any medical treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor that you are using Comtan .
• LAB TESTS may be performed to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Comtan during pregnancy. It is unknown if Comtan is excreted in breast milk.
If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are taking Comtan , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
- taken from www.drugs.com/cdi/comtan.html
di/comtan.html
Tags: comtan, entacapone, levodopa, carbidopa, PD
admin | 01.30.08 | Medication Issues | 1 Comment |
COMTAN
Generic Name: Entacapone (en-TACK-ah-pone)
Brand Name: Comtan
Comtan is used for: treating Parkinson disease when used with levodopa/carbidopa.
Note: Comtan does not produce the desired results for PD if not used with levodopa/carbidopa simultaneously.
Comtan is a catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. It works by increasing the levels of levodopa/carbidopa in the brain, thereby enhancing its effectiveness.
Do NOT use Comtan if you are allergic to any ingredient in Comtan or if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) within the last 2 weeks. This does not include the medicine selegiline.
Before using Comtan : Some medical conditions may interact with Comtan . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have liver disease or rhabdomyolysis (muscle weakness or aching)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Comtan . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
· Ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cholestyramine, erythromycin, nonselective MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine, tranylcypromine), probenecid, or rifampicin because the actions and side effects of Comtan may be increased
· Apomorphine, bitolterol, dobutamine, dopamine, isoetharine, isoproterenol, methyldopa, or sympathomimetics (eg, epinephrine) because the actions and side effects may be increased by Comtan
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur.
Comtan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Important safety information: Comtan may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Comtan .
• Using Comtan alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and taking other medicines that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Comtan .
• Hallucinations and nausea may occur while taking Comtan , especially in the beginning of therapy.
• You may experience an increase in involuntary movements while taking Comtan .
• This medicine may color the urine a brownish orange. This is normal.
• Before you have any medical treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor that you are using Comtan .
• LAB TESTS may be performed to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Comtan during pregnancy. It is unknown if Comtan is excreted in breast milk.
If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are taking Comtan , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
- taken from www.drugs.com/cdi/comtan.html
di/comtan.html
Tags: comtan, entacapone, levodopa, carbidopa, PD
admin | 01.30.08 | Medication Issues | 1 Comment |